Parents' council says teachers strike is 'unnecessary burden'

The organisation representing parents of children in secondary education has said it believes there is nothing to be gained from the planned November 24 strike action by teachers which will affect some 800,000 pupils.

Rose Tully of the National Parents Council Post Primary says such action is unfair on parents and children.

"All its doing at the moment is pointing out to people what we already know" she said.

"I don't believe anything is to be gained from it; except the fact that the school year is being disrupted and the integrity of the school year is being undermined".

"Parents who are actually working will have to get a child-minder or take time out - I feel myself this is putting an unnecessary burden on the parents" she added.

Primary and secondary school teachers last week voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in protest at the €1.3bn in public sector pay cuts being proposed by the Government.

Teachers' union the INTO says a negotiated settlement to the dispute remains a possibility.