Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
1016 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a matter (details supplied); if the pay rise directed by the Labour Court in February 2009 will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48451/09]
View answer1019 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an agreement on a pay claim between his Department and a trade union representing certain public service workers (details supplied) which was forwarded to the Department of Finance in July 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48481/09]
View answer1020 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to the issues raised in correspondence from an education centre (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48531/09]
View answer1045 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1046/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1016, 1019, 1020 and 1045 together.
My Department gives support and funding to a number of VECs to operate Outdoor Education Centres. There are 12 centres in all. The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) lodged a claim with my Department for a substantial pay increase on behalf of the Directors of each of these Centres.
Following protracted negotiations, my Department consented to an ad-hoc referral of the claim to the Labour Court. The Labour court subsequently issued a non-binding recommendation in respect of this claim.
The current position is that the recommendation is being actively considered by officials of both my Department and the Department of Finance.
While it is acknowledged that this matter is outstanding for a period of time, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the recommendation needs to be fully considered in light of the issues it raises in the context of the current fiscal situation.
However, I expect that a final decision will be communicated to the interested parties shortly.
