Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 2

Written Answers. - Youthreach Programme.

Seán Ryan

Question:

82 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the results of the independent arbitration between his Department and the Teachers Union of Ireland in relation to the Youthreach claim on which his Department offered independent arbitration at the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1395/99]

Emmet Stagg

Question:

101 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the results of the independent arbitration between his Department and the Teachers Union of Ireland in relation to the Youthreach claim on which his Department offered independent arbitration at the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1253/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 101 together.

The adjudication of thead hoc Public Service Arbitration Board in respect of the Youthreach claim recommends that Youthreach co-ordinators and resource staff be offered fixed purpose contracts or a minimum of two year contracts, whichever is the longer; the application of the seven point scales used for managers and trainers in community training workshops, backdated to 1 January 1997, with assimilation onto the new scales on the same basis as applied in the workshops; the payment of qualification allowances of £1500 per annum, backdated to 1 January 1997 for co-ordinators and resource staff with degrees or other qualifications which are reckonable for payment of incremental teaching salary, and of allowances of two thirds and one third respectively to holders of university diploma and certificate qualifications in education and training, youth or community work or counselling; payment of the part-time teaching rate to hourly paid staff; and that eligible part-time teaching contracts be continued for staff in respect of Youthreach work. In addition, full-time instruction staff in Youthreach will be pensionable under the conditions set out in the local government superannuation scheme. A ballot completed on 4 February has resulted in acceptance of the recommendations of the adjudication board, and arrangements are now being made to put the changes into effect.