The Public Expenditure Minister is appealing to the ASTI to reconsider its plans for industrial action.

The secondary teachers group is the only union to reject the Haddington Road agreement and it last night announced that its members will withdraw from meetings outside school hours, school planning and in-service training. The action will begin on October 2nd and run for two weeks.

17,000 secondary school teachers attached to the ASTI will withdraw from meetings outside of normal school hours - including staff and parent teacher meetings, in-service training and school planning.

ASTI members are also being directed to withdraw co-operation with any in-service organised for the new Junior Cycle Framework and will not fulfil duties arising from vacated middle-management posts.

General-Secretary Pat King says while teachers are anxious not to disrupt their students education, the litany of cuts imposed by government has done just that.

The Deputy General Secretary of the ASTI is Diarmuid De Paor. He defended their action to Breakfast here on Newstalk.

While Minister Brendan Howlin says Haddington Road cannot be changed and is calling on the teachers to reconsider their plans.