Minister for Education Richard Bruton said his department remains open to discussing issues of mutual concern with the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI).

He told the Dáil the union had been invited to discussions on the same basis as the INTO and the TUI. "Regrettably, ASTI declined to take part in such discussions and instead decided to ballot on a withdrawal from the Croke Park hours,'' he added.

Mr Bruton warned being outside public service agreements brought risks for both public servants and the wider public who used the services they provided.

ASTI members had voted last autumn not to accept the Lansdowne Road agreement, but had continued to abide by the Haddington Road agreement that expires at the end of next month.

Recently, ASTI members had voted to withdraw from the Croke Park hours upon completion of Haddington Road, he said.

‘Valuable resource’

“The Croke Park hours are a valuable resource within the school system that allow certain essential activities involving the entire teaching staff or groups of teachers to take place.

“These include staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings, school planning, subject planning and mandated continuing professional development.’’

“In withdrawing from these hours, ASTI is thereby repudiating the Lansdowne Road agreement,’’ he added.

He said its members were also opting to forgo a series of benefits and protections, as communicated by his department previously.

The Minister was replying to Fianna Fáil education spokesman Thomas Byrne who said it appeared the situation needed to be tackled or there would be serious consequences for education and for students.