LRC to hear supervision row

A FOUR-YEAR dispute between two unions over who should be paid for running a supervision scheme in vocational schools is to be ruled on by the Labour Relations Commission.

The row involving the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, representing principals, and IMPACT, on behalf of school secretaries and other Vocational Education Committee administration staff, began when the scheme was set up to help end a teachers’ strike in 2003.

The scheme allows payment of almost €1,700 a year to teachers who volunteer for up to 37 hours a year of supervision and substitution duties. The Department of Education sets aside 5% of the cost in each school for the staff who manage it.