UP to €90,000 of funds from what are now cash-strapped local authorities was used to send union officials on trips around the world to train them for talks on the social partnership process.

MAJOR disruption in the country’s vocational schools has been averted by the deferral of a strike threatened by administration staff next week.

PAYMENTS to thousands of teachers and students could be delayed because of strike at the offices of the country’s Vocational Education Committees.

AN industrial relations dispute is delaying efforts to keep track of children who are regularly not turning up at school.