Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 12 together. I share the Deputy's concern to ensure that adult learners are supported in their learning journey in our further and education and training system. On the issues raised in the Deputy's question, the Minister has no function in respect of the operational management of our education and training boards, ETBs.

As independent statutory bodies, the allocation and management of funding to different FET programmes within each education and training board, the scheduling of courses and the conversion process for adult educators are matters for the relevant ETB.

The Department understands that Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board has postponed some planned provision to remain within its overall budgetary allocation. All ETBs have been responding to funding pressures in 2024, largely arising from the need to prioritise capacity in craft apprenticeship as well as reflecting the demand-led nature of FET provision. In doing so, the objective has been to minimise disruption to learners as much as possible.

The details of the conversion process for adult tutors to the new public service grade of adult educators were advised by the Department to the ETBs in April. The Department has been informed by Education and Training Boards Ireland that this work is near completion and the conversion process should take place by January 2025 at the latest. This process, in itself, does not provide any reason for classes not to commence or for contracts to be suspended.

The Cavan and Monaghan ETB has advised the Department that it informed all its tutors of the timeframe for conversion and that their existing terms and conditions will continue to apply until the conversion process is complete.

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