Industrial action is very likely among teachers according to the ASTI, with a result of a members’ ballot for action due today.

A result in favour of industrial action could lead to schools closing this autumn. The Department of Education has asked the ASTI to not only co-operate with contingency plans to keep schools open, but also to give it sufficient notice to put those plans in place.

The union which represents second level teachers says that recently qualified teachers are on inferior pay scales.

The group will hold a protest outside the Dáil this evening to highlight their concerns.

President of the ASTI Ed Byrne said the current pay scales are unfair, adding: “In recent weeks we have seen the dispute on the buses be solved because the unions were able to go in without preconditions.

“Every time I meet the Government I have a precondion called the Lansdowne Road Agreement. I therefore just get a mantra – ‘Lansdowne Road is the only show in town’.”