Taoiseach believes industrial action by teachers can be avoided

Image via Facebook.com/michealmartintd

The ASTI voted in favour of industrial action yesterday.

The Taoiseach has said he believes industrial action by teachers can be avoided, after Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) members yesterday balloted in favour of industrial action if issues in schools are not addressed.

Those issues include more comprehensive testing and a faster turnaround for tests as well as further resourcing for when a school has to close.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the government will be engaging closely with the ASTI and he hopes industrial action can be avoided.

''I don't detect many teachers want to go down that route'', he said.

''NPHET and the public health authorities are absolutely clear schools are safe.

''In fact the Chief Medical officer said to me last Saturday week that they're safer than being outside of school, certainly for teenagers and that age cohort''.

There have been 46 new outbreaks of coronavirus in schools in the last week, but the positivity rate among close contacts is much lower in schools compared to the wider community.