Secondary students across the country are heading back to school today as the ASTI has suspended its industrial action.

Last night the union accepted an invitation from the Teachers’ Conciliation Council to attend talks with the Department of Education.

Those talks will be aimed at resolving the dispute over pay and conditions.

Members will be available for teaching, supervision and substitution duties for the duration of the discussions, which are expected to continue until the end of November.

Education Minister Richard Bruton has welcomed the decision.

Around 500 schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday as school management said they could not open for health and safety reasons without adequate cover for supervision and substitution duties.

ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie said they chose to suspend the industrial action as a mark of good faith.

“The suspension of the industrial action has to be seen as a constructive move on our part…We would expect reciprocation and that the talks would bear fruit and dividends for our members),” he said.