Vol. 474 No. 7
98 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education the action, if any, she intends to take to respond positively to the demands from Youthreach teachers to address their concerns in the areas to job permanency, proper pay scale, and suitable allowances for qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4023/97]
My Department commissioned an evaluation of the staffing structure, qualifications profile and employment of the staff in the programme. The report was completed at the beginning of April 1996 and copies were supplied to the relevant interests.
Negotiations on pay and conditions for Youthreach are ongoing between my Department and the union representing instruction staff in the programme. Facilitation and arbitration under the terms of the Government-ICTU PCW statement of 15 May 1996 was offered. Discussions are still ongoing, and the union is referring the matter to the Central Review Committee of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work for determination on the question of the applicability to Youtheach of the terms of the “Chairman's Minute concerning New Companies or Newly Organised Employees in Employments where no unionisation already exists.”
My Department is fully committed to reaching an amicable solution to the dispute on pay and conditions, within the overall parameters of public pay policy.
