Media outlets are this morning reporting a possible breakthrough in the ASTI dispute.

Talks have been underway for a number of weeks to try and resolve a number of issues of contention around supervision and substitution duties, working additional hours, new entrant pay levels and junior cycle reform.  The talks involved not just the ASTI and the Department of Education but also the-end intro] INTO and the TUI, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Talks aimed at trying to resolve the dispute broke up at 1am this morning. It is reported that a document is now being prepared for consideration by both sides. A special meeting of the ASTI's Standing Committee has beened called for tomorrow to consider proposals set out in the document aimed at ending the dispute. However the proposals would also have to be considred by the ASTI 180 member central executive committee before any deal would be put to the wider membership of 17,000 teachers.

Minister for Education Richard Bruton has confirmed that a document is being prepared but has said that talks still have some way to go and that there is a considerable amount of work yet to be done.

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