Industrial action could hit school sport events from September

School sports, exam-related field trips, and other off-site activities could be affected by industrial action planned by teachers at hundreds of second-level schools from September.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) annual convention decided last week to advise its 18,000 members to withdraw from unpaid substitution work in the autumn as it continues its pay dispute with the Department of Education.

While the exact intentions or impacts remain to be seen, and could depend on what funding is put in place by the department for contingency arrangements, the ability to allow teachers be absent on schools business is almost certain to be restricted.