Talks on school supervision collapse

Talks between the union representing secondary school teachers and the Minister for Education have collapsed without result.

The ASTI had been meeting with Minister Noel Dempsey to resolve the latest row over supervision and substitution duties.

The union wanted teachers to be paid for being on stand-by for 37 hours of such work each year, whether or not they were called upon to do the work.

Minister Dempsey has said he is very disappointed that the talks had failed but added that the scheme as it stood could not be changed.