The Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan has held a "constructive" meeting with secondary teachers unions to hear their concerns about junior cycle reforms.

Ms O'Sullivan says she will release a statement on the discussions later. These were her first engagement with the ASTI and the TUI since she became minister.

Members of the ASTI will vote this month on escalating their action against the reforms which will require teachers to mark their own students' papers.

Ms O'Sullivan says she has heard their concerns and will meet with the unions again in the near future.

Her predecessor, Ruairí Quinn, announced details in January of the reformed Junior Cert - or Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA).

Ms O'Sullivan has previously said she is pressing ahead with the changes.

They have seen teachers unions stage protests, and have said their concerns about marking papers from their own students were not being listened to.