Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of regularising the terms and conditions of adult education tutors employed by education and training boards; the timeline to address the outstanding commitments, recommendations, awards and claims within the terms of the quantum of the sectoral bargaining fund available for agreed sectoral bargaining units; if an agreed approach with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has been reached; and when a proposal will be made to staff representatives with a view to resolving outstanding issues. [51641/22]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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A range of industrial relations issues regarding adult education tutors have been under discussion for a number of years and progress has been made in resolving key issues, including the introduction of a consistent formula for awarding Contracts of Indefinite Duration across ETBs in 2017 and the provision of access to leave schemes, paid leave and access to the appropriate public sector pension scheme in 2019.

The claim to align adult education tutors to a pay scale of an existing grade in ETBs remains unresolved. The Labour Court recommended in 2020 that the Department identify the scale of cost it was prepared or able to absorb and make an offer within those parameters given the constraints applying under FEMPI legislation and the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) in relation to cost-increasing claims.

The Sectoral Bargaining Fund under Building Momentum is to deal with outstanding issues within the terms of the Fund and within the Exchequer funding limit in place.

My officials have been engaging with colleagues in the Department of Education, which has regulatory responsibility for the ETB Sector, and have prepared a joint proposal aimed at resolving the outstanding issue which is under consideration by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My officials have met with the Unions on a regular basis on this matter and they will be sharing details of the proposal with the TUI and SIPTU representatives as part of the ongoing engagement regarding this claim.