Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the high rates of casualisation and low rates of pay in the third level sector for casual academics; and her plans to address the situation. [45365/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department has established an Expert Group, chaired by a Senior Counsel, to consider and report on the level of fixed-term and part-time employment in lecturing, having regard to the importance of employment stability and security and taking account of system and institution needs. The Group comprises representatives from the Department, employer management bodies and trade unions. The Group has received submissions and is consulting with stakeholders. The Chairman will present his report to my Department when the Group's work is fully completed. In the interim, the qualification period for the granting of a contract of indefinite duration has been reduced from four years to three years in respect of fixed-term and part-time lecturing staff who entered their fourth year of employment in September 2013.