Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
102. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the ongoing engagement between his Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform regarding the position of adult tutors in education and training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15663/23]
View answerThere are over 3,300 adult education tutors employed across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). There is no specific public sector grade of adult education tutor and tutors are paid on an hourly rate basis, generally at the unqualified teacher rate. While progress has been made across other issues for adult tutors, the claim from SIPTU and TUI to align adult education tutors to a pay scale of an existing ETB grade remains unresolved. In 2020, the Labour Court recommended that the official side make an offer. A joint proposal has been prepared by my Department and the Department of Education, which retains regulatory responsibility for the ETB sector. This proposal is currently under discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with a view to finalising the offer to the Unions as the earliest opportunity.
