Imelda Goldsboro (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister, Deputy Lawless.

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for coming in today. I wish to highlight a long-standing and unjust issue affecting Youthreach staff, specifically the ongoing failure to pay these dedicated educators for the correction and grading of locally devised assessments. This issue of these staff members not being paid to the same standard as those in other FET centres was brought to my attention by a very passionate teacher at a recent visit to Youthreach. This has been raised multiple times over multiple years. Circular 27/2011 sets outs clear rates for LDA correction across QQI levels 4, 5 and 6. These are the very same modules being delivered in Youthreach centres every day by teachers who invest considerable amounts of time, energy and care in supporting some of our most vulnerable and at-risk young people. Despite the circular and the fact VTOS and all other further education and training staff are reimbursed for this work, Youthreach staff continue to be excluded. There is no policy or directive that explicitly states Youthreach staff should not be paid. The Teachers' Union of Ireland has been unequivocal that there is no impediment to Youthreach staff being paid for the work in line with their FET colleagues, but nothing has yet come to fruition. This is more than an administrative oversight; it is a fundamental issue of equality and respect.

We speak often enough in these Houses about the importance of a second education and giving young people a fair shot no matter their background. We cannot say that with integrity when the very staff who are at the front line of this second education are treated as second class themselves. To put it plainly, a second chance education should not mean second-class resources, and certainly not second-class treatment for the educators delivering it. I am sure the Minister is very familiar with Youthreach. The teachers are not just instructors, but are also mentors, social supports, emotional anchors and advocates for young people who have faced a lot of adversity. These young people have faced trauma, poverty, exclusion and disconnection from mainstream education. These teachers' work goes beyond solely the classroom, but at the very least their classroom work should be properly compensated. It is unacceptable that these teachers, who are delivering accredited QQI components, just like their colleagues, are asked to mark assessments in their own time and without pay. In many centres staff go above and beyond, often covering a wide range of responsibilities in small teams and with very limited resources. Their continued denial of payment for LDA corrections is not only a moral failing but a serious blow to the sustainability and morale of Youthreach services. Will the Minister and his Department acknowledge the disparity formally and clarify and confirm that Youthreach teachers are entitled to the LDA payments in line with Circular 27/2011? Will he instruct SOLAS and ETBs to immediately apply this payment structure to Youthreach staff? We cannot continue to rely on the goodwill and professionalism of Youthreach teachers while denying them parity with their peers. The young people in Youthreach deserve the very best and their teachers who support them deserve to be recognised, supported and paid for the full extent of the work they do.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Ryan and thank her for raising this issue with me today. I will set out the context around the query before answering as Members may not be familiar with the issue that arises and the surrounding circumstances, so it might be helpful to the debate.

A locally devised assessment, LDA, refers to an assessment created by a further education and training, FET, provider to evaluate learners’ skills and competencies in a specific course or module. These assessments align with the learning outcomes set by Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, or potentially other awarding bodies and are designed locally to suit the needs of learners and courses.

Many FET courses focus on skills-based learning, so LDAs often involve practical tasks, projects, or portfolios rather than just written exams. LDA fees are paid to assessors in respect of their work in devising and assessing QQI modules on full-time programmes at levels 5 and 6 of the national framework of qualifications. Rates are dependent on the type of assessments, for example, whether they are written, practical, or portfolio-based assessments or other forms. The rates payable are set out in a circular from 2011 and, since then, some modifications have been made. In 2017, the circular was brought in line with the new common awards and it was agreed between the then Department of Education and Skills and SOLAS that a revised set of locally devised assessment rates would be developed with fees paid for a fixed list of modules. The updated rates remain principally payable for full-time QQI modules at levels 5 and 6. For historical reasons, there are also 31 level 4 modules for which rates are paid where they form part of the QQI major award at level 5. Guidance on LDA rates would not exclude any teacher from receiving a payment if they are involved in assessing such modules.

To deal specifically with the Senator's query, it would be helpful if in her reply she identified in which centre she met the individual as it would help me get to the bottom of the issue afterwards. Youthreach is an important programme, as she acknowledged, designed to support young people who have left school early. According to the 2015 operator guidelines for Youthreach centres, the primary focus of Youthreach is on the delivery of QQI modules at levels 3 and 4. Therefore, as LDA rates relate mainly to levels 5 and 6, the guidelines do not cover LDA fees in this part of the sector. I am aware that some Youthreach centres have started to deliver level 5 courses, but this was not generally envisaged for Youthreach. It was expected and anticipated that learners who wished to progress further would move on to levels 5 and 6 courses in other parts of the FET system, for example, via post-leaving certificate, PLC, courses.

I am aware that questions have arisen about the payment of LDA rates to Youthreach staff involved in the delivery of level 5 courses. The LDA rates do not exclude any teacher from receiving a payment if they are involved in assessing a relevant module. My officials are in contact with SOLAS and the relevant ETBs and are working on communications that will address such questions. The principal issue is that Youthreach is mainly focused on levels 3 and 4 of the national framework so it would be unusual for Youthreach teachers to be eligible for the LDA fees. This is a reflection of the structure of the overall FET system. In essence, there may be something of a mismatch in the situation arising in the Senator's question in that, historically, it has arisen in some FETs whereas the goal and intention of the programme is to deliver levels 3 and 4 courses, with learners usually moving on to different facilities for level 5 and beyond. I am committed to the critical role that Youthreach plays and I want to support it. Most of all, I would like to better understand the Senator’s question so that I might give a more comprehensive answer in due course. If she would just elaborate on who, what, when and where, then we can dig into it.

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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It was a teacher in Macroom Youthreach. I thank the Minister for clarifying that. The biggest issue with Youthreach centres across Cork and maybe more generally is that there is not a clear guideline so the information is fed down clearly and they can understand what course they can be paid for. As the Minister said, some Youthreach centres are starting to put on level 5 courses and I do not think that issue is widely known across Youthreach. Some more clarification on that would be fantastic and I would be delighted to work with the Minister to relay that information to the Youthreach centres across my area.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator. That is helpful. I was not aware there was an issue in Macroom. We will look into that in a little more detail. There are variances across the sector, as I said, and certain historical practices have developed over and above what was perhaps the design or intention of those facilities. Perhaps that needs to be looked at as well, as to whether it is appropriate or right that certain courses be developed in certain centres at different levels. I will certainly take that away. I know Macroom, and perhaps the Senator will write to me and pass on more details. I will certainly look into it. I reiterate my commitment to Youthreach and the good work it does, and that the tutors do at every level across the board.