Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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288. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Kerry ETB tutors have not received an increase in their pay (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22290/23]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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There are over 3,300 adult education tutors employed across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs).

There is no specific public sector grade of adult education tutor and tutors are paid on an hourly rate basis, generally at the unqualified teacher rate, however some ETBs, including Kerry ETB, pay relevant staff the self-financing tutor rate. Those staff on the unqualified teacher rate have received pay increases in line with Building Momentum. 

Following discussions between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform a proposal in response to the recommendation of the Labour Court regarding adult education tutors was outlined to the unions in April and further meetings have taken place to discuss the details. The proposal is that a grade of Adult Educator will be formally established with a standardised payscale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. 

Where tutors are paid on other rates, such as the self-financing rates, they will be offered assimilation to the scale which will regularise pay across the ETBs. 

The provision of a pay scale will allow for incremental progression and a career path for tutors in the further education and training sector.

Officials in my Department will follow up with the Deputy directly as the matter progresses.