Throughout April and May 2016, discussions were held between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) in relation to issues of mutual concern in the context of the union's co-operation with national collective agreements including the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
Arising from these discussions my Department addressed some general employment concerns of the TUI and gave a commitment to review certain identified matters, including the introduction of an incremental credit scheme for Youthreach Resource Persons and Coordinators.
On 30 May 2016, members of the TUI voted to accept the proposed agreement with my Department and to become party to the Lansdowne Road Agreement with effect from the 1st July 2016.
It is within this context that an incremental credit scheme for Youthreach Resource Persons and Coordinators has been introduced with effect from 1st July 2016.