Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
225. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on concerns raised by union membership of circular letters 0037/2026 and 0038/2026 for senior cycle (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27801/26]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware my Department published two Circulars last week which provide for two Posts of Responsibility in post-primary schools across the country. It is intended that , following a recruitment process, teachers selected for these posts can be in position from the start of the 2026/2027 school year.
The Posts of Responsibility in question were committed to in the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Support Measures document published by my Department in May 2025, following extensive negotiations with both the ASTI and the TUI. Each post-primary teacher union balloted in the relevant sections of the Support Measures package with the TUI membership accepting the package whilst the ASTI membership rejected the measures.
There has been ongoing engagement with each Union since those ballot results were declared in June 2025 in regard to Senior Cycle Redevelopment. This has included engagement with the ASTI through the Dispute Resolution mechanisms set out in the Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026 following the initiation of a dispute by the ASTI in June 2025.
The ASTI’s membership have not been excluded from eligibility for the posts provided for in the Circulars referenced. The ASTI’s membership voted to reject the relevant sections of the Support Measures package and as such cannot be beneficiaries of measures they have rejected. Therefore, in framing each of the Circulars published last week my Department has sought to respect each of the ballot results.
In the details supplied by the Deputy, reference is made to certain elements of the Circulars published last week being without precedent. I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the Declaration required under Circular 0068/2025 in regard to the introduction of temporary revised Croke Park Hours for post-primary teachers. That Circular, and its provisions, arose from the Support Measures package and also sought to respect the respective union ballot results.
It is a matter for the ASTI to consider how its members could become eligible for these Posts of Responsibility and the other measures set out in the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Support Measures package. It is my hope that in time ASTI members will also benefit from those supports as they continue to implement Senior Cycle Redevelopment, as committed to under the Public Service Pay Agreement.
