A number of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have employed personal assistants to provide supports to learners under the Fund for Students with Disabilities. Following engagement with a variety of stakeholders on the issue, I authorised SOLAS to revise their Guidelines on the Fund for Students with Disabilities to provide for a standard hourly rate of €21 for personal assistant employed directly by ETBs, with effect from 1st March 2024. I also requested my Department to undertake a review of the demand for, and response to, personal assistant services across the Higher Education and Further Education and Training sectors, which will examine the various arrangements in place.
The matter of pay frequency is an issue for the employer organisations, in this case the individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and Higher Education Institution (HEIs).
FÓRSA lodged a formal claim for improvements to the terms and conditions of personal assistants with ETBI, seeking the establishment of a public service grade, with an incremental salary scale, pension and leave entitlements. The Union has advised that it is referring the matter to the Workplace Relations Commission for Conciliation.
