Teachers hit out at holiday threat to pay rises

EDUCATION MINISTER Noel Dempsey has infuriated teacher unions by confirming pay rises will be withheld from teachers whose schools closed for holidays this week.

As part of the new standardised school year, school Christmas holidays officially begin on Tuesday next, but a number of schools closed yesterday.

The ASTI and INTO said the decision to close a school for holidays is not made by the teachers and therefore they should not be penalised for it.