Talks aimed at ending the ongoing school secretary dispute are to take place at the Workplace Relations Commission.
The row, which centres around a two-tier pay system, has so far seen secretaries' engage in a month of work-to-rule industrial action.
However, the Department of Education has now agreed to take part in talks aimed at ending the dispute.
In a statement, Education Minister Joe McHugh expressed regret that Fórsa was engaging in industrial action.
He stated that he hopes the outcomes from the WRC would lead to an acceptable solution for all involved.
Fórsa education organiser Andy Pike welcomed news of the talks, saying school secretaries have been ignored up to now.
He said, "as there is only one secretary in a school and they're very isolated I think the department has had the view that they could be fobbed off without any serious effort being made to resolve the issue."
