IRELAND: The Government has offered to pay teachers IRpound;27 (pound;21.55) an hour for voluntary supervision and substitution work - the first time such payment will be made. The rate is higher than the current part-time teaching rate of just under IRpound;20 (pound;15.97) an hour. Teachers who volunteer will be required to perform 37 hours of supervisionsubstitution work in every school year. They can opt for up to a maximum of 49 hours per school year. The payment is unlikely to defuse teacher anger over pay. The executive of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland has decided the offer is so derisory it will not even put it out to ballot. Instead, it is organising a ballot on whether or not teachers should ban voluntary supervision and substitution work. The other unions will also ballot on the offer.

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