Teacher pay talks must be resolved before next term

Politicians have urged both sides in the teacher's dispute to return to talks to resolve the substitution and supervision issues.

The talks ended this morning when the ASTI pulled out of discussions.

There are now fears that this latest breakdown could lead to further disruption in the country's secondary schools.

Labour's Jan O'Sullivan is urging both sides to be flexible and resolve the dispute before students return after the Christmas holidays.

She said: "On a question of interpretation when the substantial agreement has been made, it does seem to me to be something that has to be got over, there has to be a way to get around this obstacle."