Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1424. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will implement the Labour Court ruling of 20 March 2020 for adult educators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39618/22]
View answerThe Labour Court recommendation of March 2020 in relation to the Unions claims regarding adult education tutors, was that the Department, in the context of the 2015 Chairman’s note, should identify the scale of cost it was prepared or able to absorb and make an offer within those parameters. The Court noted the official side’s assertion regarding constraints applying under FEMPI legislation and the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) in relation to cost-increasing claims. It also accepted that any offer could not, having regard to the contrasting nature of the roles, qualifications, flexibility and regulatory frameworks, involve an alignment with the Teachers scale.
My officials have been engaging with colleagues in the Department of Education, which has regulatory responsibility for the ETB Sector, and have prepared a joint proposal which is under consideration by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Department officials are meeting regularly with the Unions on this matter and it is expected that the Department will be in a position to make a proposal to staff representatives in the coming weeks with a view to resolving the issue.
