Teachers' unions say they have been left with no option but to go on strike tomorrow. ASTI President Philip Irwin has told The Last Word on Today FM said the unions had been pushed to the action, but it could have been avoided if Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan had deferred implementation of Junior Cert reforms.

“If the new minister Jan O’Sullivan had deferred implementation until there was agreement we wouldn't be in this mess,” Mr Irwin said.

“We’re about protecting in the long term the interests of Irish education and therefore we find it necessary to take this action.”
Over 700 schools will shut for the day, in the first of two one-day strikes by the TUI and ASTI.

“The minister would have the power under the education to define the syllabus,” Mr Irwin said. “English have accepted and started the implementation but ... Not when implementation is ongoing, we can’t leave it go on, we need to get agreement on this.”

Earlier the education minister Jan O'Sullivan said she was prepared to meet unions for last-minute talks to avert the strike.

“The ball is in the court of the unions now,” Mrs O’Sullivan said. “They should come back to the table ... I believe it’s time to talk”