Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware that adult education classes have been extremely important for a huge number of learners on an annual basis. They have enabled people to develop skills and obtain qualifications that literally changed their lives. In Cavan-Monaghan, thanks to the good work of the education and training boards, ETBs, over many years, we have had active and dynamic programmes. Unfortunately, a number of the planned autumn programmes in adult education in Cavan and Monaghan have been deferred. ETBs were encouraged to extend the range of courses and now the necessary funding has not been provided. This has caused serious disappointment and anger among learners, who in many instances were in the middle of courses.

Tutors expected the tutor-to-adult-educator conversion process to be implemented this month. Implementation has now been put back to January 2025. This process would put the conditions of their employment on a proper footing, which should be the case for all employees of the State. Some tutors, never mind not having their conversion process completed, do not have any work now. The Department of further education or Solas or both need to ensure that additional funding is allocated without delay to enable classes that were due to start this month to resume. It is extremely important for learners and tutors that the Department and Solas deal with the matter with the utmost urgency.

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