Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1695. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the funding bodies of SOLAS and Education and Training Boards ensure that funding is made available for employers to make agreed backdated payments to their staff under the Section 39 WRC Pay Agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14406/24]
View answer1697. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to ensure the back-dating of pay increases for Section 39 workers funded outside of the HSE, in particular those which come under the Department including education and training boards. [14627/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1695 and 1697 together.
Following conciliation at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in 2023, a pay agreement representing Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations was agreed with parties including the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth and the Department of Health.
Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform regarding this pay award and the relevant Section 39 workers delivering training for the Education and Training Boards. It is hoped to provide an update on this matter at the earliest opportunity.
