Teachers' union agrees deal on allowances under local bargaining process

The current allowance for principals will also be increased. File picture: Ben Birchall

An agreement has been reached between the Department of Education and the country’s largest teachers’ union on several allowances negotiated under the Local Bargaining Fund.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) secured the backing of its members last month at its annual congress to ballot for industrial action on a number of fronts, including on the introduction of allowances through the Local Bargaining Agreement.

Following the agreement this week, allowances for primary teachers working in Gaeltacht schools, Gaelscoileanna, special schools, and schools classified as very disadvantaged will be introduced and backdated to last September.

The current allowance for principals will also be increased.

This agreement represents the first phase of local bargaining progress within the education sector, according to minister of State for special education Michael Moynihan.

“The measures are focused on schools and settings that can face particular recruitment and retention challenges and we believe that they will help provide greater continuity and consistency in students’ learning experiences,” he said.

“My officials will continue to engage with other education sector trade unions, which have submitted a range of proposals under the local bargaining fund. Further circulars will issue in the coming weeks on the outcome of negotiations.”

In an update to its members, the INTO said there was stalemate in the negotiations in relation to the reinstatement of qualifications' allowances. 

It will now refer this to the dispute resolution facility within the public service agreement. 

Approximately 14,000 teachers will benefit from phase one of local bargaining, the union said.