ACCS Information Note Re: Circular 0068/2025
ACCS Information Note Re: Circular 0068/2025: Senior Cycle Redevelopment (SCR) Implementation Support Measures - Interim amendment to the operation of the whole school component of the Croke Park Hours
Dear Colleagues,
ACCS is engaged in daily talks with the Department and the other management bodies regarding the operation of Circular 0068/2025. We are very conscious that this situation for the dual union schools has arisen because of a national dispute about SCR. We are mindful that different trade unions are offering different advice to their members, and this may result in different positions for different members of staff in our schools. While the talks are ongoing in relation to resolving this matter, ACCS advises the following: (Extracts from CL 0068/2025 in blue below)
Circulation and Queries: Point 22 of Circular 0068/2025: School Principals are requested to ensure that copies of this Circular are provided to all members of the Board of Management/Education and Training Board and its contents are brought to the attention of all post-primary teachers in your employment including those on leave of absence. This is in line with what is asked of school principals in relation to all circulars and information notes published by the DEY.
Amendment to the operation of the Croke Park Hours: Points 11-14 of Circular 0068/2025 (see below): These points set out what is asked of teachers in relation to signing the appendix to the circular. The return date is tomorrow, 7th October.
Teachers will have to take advice from their union regarding their position in relation to signing the appendix. Please note the circular only seeks that principals make teachers aware of its contents, i.e., ensure it is circulated to all teaching staff. At this time, principals should accept any returned forms and note that for those who complete section (i) of Appendix 1, the new interim arrangements will apply re the rebalancing of the CP hours. Where a teacher chooses not to return the form, the previously applicable Circulars (including CL0045/2016 and CL0048/2017) shall apply. (See point 14 below)
Advice on managing the necessary arrangements, i.e., rebalancing CP hours for some staff, arising from this aspect of the circular implementation will be issued in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, ACCS will continue to engage with the Department regarding potential and immediate difficulties that are arising in schools because of the challenges in implementing this circular.
Amendment to the operation of the Croke Park Hours
11. Accordingly, to ensure that school management is aware of whether this Circular (CL0068/2025) or the previously applicable Circulars (including CL0045/2016 and CL0048/2017) shall apply to a particular teacher as regards their CPH obligations, it is necessary that all teachers in all schools complete the Declaration Form at Appendix 1.
12. Under Data Protection legislation, the Department of Education and Youth/Education and Training Boards cannot routinely use information held on the payroll systems in regard to an individual teacher’s trade union membership or non-membership of either as the case may be, for the purposes of establishing whether an individual teacher may benefit from the revision to CPH as set out at paragraph 5 above. Therefore, the Declaration Form at Appendix 1 seeks the consent of the person making the declaration to verify the declaration made against payroll data if or where necessary. Where verification has been conducted, the data received by the Department or ETB Payroll Units as the case may be will not be retained for any other purpose or processed.
13. As members of the ASTI or TUI are bound by their respective ballot results on the Agreement, TUI members may only make a declaration under (i) at Appendix 1 and ASTI members may only make a declaration under (ii) at Appendix 1.
14. Each teacher employed in a school is requested to return a completed declaration as per Appendix 1 to their school principal by October 7, 2025. Where no declaration is received by that date, the pre-existing arrangements in respect of CPH shall apply to that teacher. Where a teacher opts to cease their membership of either the ASTI or TUI; or where a teacher not currently a member of either joins either Union; all such changes of status will require the completion of a new Declaration in accordance with Appendix 1. Any teacher newly employed in a school after 7th October must complete the Declaration within 2 weeks of commencing employment with the school.
Kind regards
Áine O'Sullivan,
General Secretary,
ACCS