The Department of Education and Science has been accused of reneging on commitments in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work (PCW) by failing to introduce a permanent welfare service for teaching staff.
The secondary school teachers' union, the ASTI, said the Department was depriving teachers of "essential" benefits, including access to counselling for work-related stress, by failing to establish the welfare service.
ASTI acting general secretary Mr John White said it was wrong that teachers were being denied a service that was enjoyed by other public service employees.
"Teachers work hard for their students, often in poor conditions and at times under great stress. This has been acknowledged in surveys and by independent observers. It is therefore essential that they have recourse to a comprehensive employee assistance and welfare service" he said.
A pilot employment assistance service called Edu-care was established in 1998 and later operated as an interim scheme. According to the ASTI, however, Edu-care ceased operations last September and the Department had provided no replacement.
A spokeswoman for the Department admitted that it had given a commitment to a welfare service under the PCW. However, there had been "a lot of difficulties" with the pilot Edu-care programme. While there were no definite plans to reinstate it, "we may review it in the future," she said.
