Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps we may allow our business and deliberations to be informed by one simple phrase, namely, "Trans rights are human rights".

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the thousands of adult education tutors employed by education and training boards, ETBs, across the country who still have no permanent contracts. Unlike other educators within the public sector, they have no incremental pay scales and have to sign on over the summer, Christmas and Easter breaks. They often have to wait weeks for their jobseeker's payment to come through. Three years have passed since the Labour Court recommended that the Government offer proper contracts to these tutors, yet it appears from the Department's response to last month's protest that no tangible progress has been made. It is astonishing that any Government would think it acceptable that a strand of educators within the public system could be treated so shabbily. The diversity of education and training these tutors provide to every age group and social demographic should be recognised and paid for appropriately. They are hardworking and committed public servants. They cannot plan for their future, they cannot get mortgages, they are stuck where they are, their teaching hours are capped and they are not paid for class preparation, planning or assessment work. In reality, they are doing full-time hours. As Head of Government, surely it is time for the Taoiseach to step in and sort this out.

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