The country's largest teachers’ union says pay parity for teachers is finally in sight.
The INTO says the government has acknowledged the need to resolve pay inequality by way of a pay review process.
The union says that a teacher who qualified in 2011 stands to loose 19 thousand euro between now and their retirement the way their pay is currently structured.
Salaries for newly qualified teachers were cut 9 years ago, but were restored in 2015. However this means teachers who qualified between 2011 and 2014 are earning less than their colleagues.
An end to the long running row about the disparity may finally be insight after the government issued a statement acknowledging the need to find a resolution on pay inequality by way of a pay review process or in the context of the next public sector pay talks.
It's expected Education Minister Joe McHugh will reference the breakthrough in his address to the INTO conference in Galway this morning.
Other issues down for discussion include pay parity for principles, a general teacher pay rise, and pressure on teachers to juggle the ever growing list of initiatives which they claim they are being bombarded with.
Secondary school teachers unions; the ASTI and TUI are also meeting for their annual conferences this week.
