MEMBER of the Western Education and Library Board Cllr Pat McDonnell has welcomed the NIPSA decision to allow classroom assistants to return to work pending further discussions with the management side.

The councillor, a former schoolteacher hinself, commented, "I am glad that this decision has been taken. A return to normality can only benefit the affected schols and parents and – most importantly of all – the children affected by the industrial action.

"As someone with a great deal of sympathy for the classroom assistants' grievances, I was also aware that continued industrial action could eventually damage their caseand erode public support," said the SDLP councillor. "NIPSA are making a preentation to the WELB today(Thursday) and it will be very interesting to hear what they have to say.

"As a member of the board, I have been advocating a generous approach from the managenent side. It is simply disgraceful that this row has rumbled on to the point where NIPSA felt that they had no alternative but to take industrial action."