No breakthrough yet in teachers' row
The Labour Relations Commission is expected to be in further contact with the Department of Education today amid efforts to find a settlement to the teachers pay row.
However, as students head back to their desks this morning there is no sign of a breakthrough.
All sides in this bitter row will be involved in separate stocktaking exercises this morning as the new school term gets underway.
We are now three months into the row and the stoppages by ASTI teachers are due to resume next week.
Junior and Leaving Cert students returning to classes this morning do so amid continuing uncertainty about whether the exams will take place.
The Department insists, with or without the ASTI, it is all systems go.
But there is now speculation that another teaching union, the TUI will protest strongly if third level graduates are used to correct the tests and it is firmly of the view the exams would be unworkable without the striking teachers.
