Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

514. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of industrial processes established in her area under side deals concluded with trade unions, in parallel with the Lansdowne Road talks in May 2015; the details of any agreements concluded to date on foot of such processes; the costs, including anticipated costs in future years, of any agreements reached. [40224/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Issues of local interest are discussed on an ongoing basis between management and trade unions within the education and training sector. At the time that the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) was being negotiated, the Labour Relations Commission was asked to assist in resolving a number of sectoral matters. In that context, the following processes were established in the education and training sector:

1. School Secretaries and Caretakers:

My Department agreed to engage with IMPACT and SIPTU in relation to issues around the pay of grant-funded school secretaries and caretakers and to enter an arbitration process if required. The Arbitrator has recently issued his findings and has recommended that an agreement be formed between the parties which provides for an overall pay increase of 10% for school secretaries and caretakers between 2016 and 2019 and the introduction of a minimum hourly pay rate rising from €10.25 per hour on 1 January 2016 to €13 per hour on 1 January 2019 (both rates to be inclusive of the pay increases outlined).

The recommendations are now being considered by the parties. My intention is to accept the Arbitrator's recommendations, subject to their acceptance by the union side.

2. Fixed – Term / Part Time Employment in Lecturing

This process was established under the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) and will be continued under the LRA, subject to acceptance of the Agreement by the relevant unions. An Expert Group was established to consider and report on the level of fixed-term and part-time employment in lecturing. The Department will ensure that this process is finalised and that the Report of this Expert Group is published as soon as practicable, and in any event no later than eight weeks following the acceptance of the Agreement.

3. Hourly Paid Assistant / Associate Lecturers in the IOT Sector

A process was initiated under the HRA for the phased conversion of Hourly Paid Assistant / Associate Lecturers to pro-rata Assistant Lecturers and this will be continued under the LRA, subject to acceptance of the Agreement by the relevant unions. This process is ongoing under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission and all parties re-affirm their commitment to finalising this process as soon as practicable. If agreement cannot be reached during this conciliation process the parties agree that this matter will be the subject of an early joint referral to the Labour Court for a binding determination.

4. Adult Education Tutors

Issues in relation to contracts for Adult Education Tutors were raised in the lead-in to the HRA and were the subject of conciliation under the auspices of the LRC. This process will be continued under the LRA, subject to acceptance of the Agreement by the relevant unions. The parties re-affirm their commitment to finalising this process as soon as practicable. If agreement cannot be reached during the Labour Relations Commission conciliation process the parties agree that this matter will be the subject of an early joint referral to the Labour Court for a binding determination. Subsequent to the finalisation of this process, the Management side agree to engage with the Staff side on further issues in relation to Tutors which are not encompassed by the HRA.

5. Issues concerning Staff arising from the merger of Limerick Institute of Technology and Tipperary Institute

It is agreed between the parties to work towards resolving the position regarding grade assimilation issues of former Tipperary Institute staff arising from the merger of Limerick Institute of Technology and Tipperary Institute within the lifetime of this collective agreement.