Talks still ongoing in teacher's pay dispute

Efforts resume again today to find agreement in the teachers' pay dispute.

Talks between ASTI representatives and the Department of Education ended last night without any breakthrough, but are due to resume following a meeting this morning of the ASTI's Standing Committee.

Department officials say they remain in regular contact with school management bodies on contingency arrangements ahead of teachers' threatened withdrawal of supervision and substitution duties next week.

However hundreds of secondary schools across the country look set to close next Monday unless a deal is reached.