Fresh moves to break the deadlock in the teachers' strike are to begin today, with pressure increasing for the Labour Court to re-enter the five-month-old dispute.
The new peace moves will focus on several issues including "voluntary" supervision of students between classes, for which most teachers receive no pay.
There are suggestions that the Labour Court - which has already said the supervision issue should be examined carefully - could open the way for teachers to be paid for such work.
Since this payment could be made to both primary and secondary teachers, it would not affect the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Supervision is among a range of issues likely to be "clarified" by the Labour Court. The union will decide today whether to seek "clarifications" of the court's proposals. This was first suggested yesterday by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in the Dail.
In its recent recommendation the Labour Court said teachers had a "sustainable case" for a pay rise, but did not mention a specific figure.
Government sources have expressed dismay at how quickly the ASTI rejected the original recommendation. The court had requested that its proposals be given detailed consideration.
Pressure to resolve the dispute increased yesterday when the Joint Managerial Body, representing a majority of secondary schools, said the education system was in crisis. Mr George O'Callaghan, general secretary of the JMB, requested ASTI to lift its threat to the exams. But he also called on Mr Ahern to begin peace moves.
About 5,000 people made inquiries about becoming supervisors of this year's exams. This is almost 500 more than the Department needs. It will shortly advertise for examiners.
The level of interest has surprised Department officials, and they are becoming increasingly confident of being able to stage the exams.
Last night the president of the National Parents' Council (Post-Primary), Ms Marie Danaswamy, said she was reassured about the Department's plans after meeting officials yesterday. She said the orals and practicals would take place in May, shortly before written exams.
In the Dail yesterday the Taoiseach said the Government would be happy to clarify any element of the Labour Court recommendation. But he said the ASTI "had better make up their minds" about bench marking and a national pay deal.