Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Not at all. I again thank the Minister. I hear his engagement and I absolutely accept it. The blockage in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is entirely unacceptable. Of course, there is also collective Cabinet responsibility. It is up to the Cabinet to resolve this matter without further delay. The Minister acknowledged how important this work and the issue of adult literacy is, yet these workers have been forgotten. That has been the reality for far too long.

Is an ideological blockage partly in play, not in the Minister's Department but in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform? Whenever we talk about improving workers' terms and conditions, there seems to be delay after delay. In this case, however, the Minister and I agree that these delays are entirely unacceptable. I would appreciate it if he would keep Senator Hoey and I informed because this cannot go on. This has to be resolved in the coming weeks and certainly no longer than another month. We have waited long enough.