Written answers

Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Third Level Staff

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and or proportion of academics and researchers employed in third level institutions in Ireland who hold short-term contracts and rely on social welfare to supplement their income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43303/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I do not have the data requested by the Deputy.

Under the Haddington Road Agreement an Expert Group on Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment in Lecturing in Third Level Education in Ireland was established to assist in addressing concerns raised about precarious employment by Union representatives. In May 2016 the Chairperson of the Expert Group, Mr. Michael Cush S.C., published his report. The Department issued directions to the sector on the 4th July 2016 to implement the recommendations contained in the report in accordance with the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Implementation by Institutions has proceeded.

The Cush Report is specific to concerns raised about part-time and fixed-term employment in lecturing and its recommendations are not applicable to non-lecturing grades. It is important to acknowledge that there can be objective conditions for the employment of an individual on a fixed term basis such as for example, for the completion of a specific task or project or for the temporary replacement of an academic seconded to a leadership role for the period. Nevertheless the recommendations of the Cush Report to avoid unnecessary use of extended temporary contracts are clear. In line with the Universities Act, 1997, third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy. Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements.

In the event that a union has concerns regarding work and contract conditions among staff in any third level institution, that union can seek to have the matter addressed using the dispute resolution procedures provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement, and any individuals who have issues of dispute have a variety of dispute resolution options open to them.

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