Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the progress of the review of personal assistance services funded from the fund for students with disabilities across tertiary education settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13984/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department increased the hourly rate of pay for personal assistants by 43%, bringing the rate from €14 per hour to €21 per hour, plus 8% holiday pay in response to discussions between a representative group of personal assistants and the former Minister in my Department, Tánaiste Simon Harris.

In 2024, FÓRSA submitted a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission regarding the pay and conditions for personal assistants. I'm pleased to report that several key aspects of the claim have been resolved, including the confirmation that qualifying personal assistants should be awarded Contracts of Indefinite Duration, in line with current employment law, as well as clarifications around entitlements to sick leave and holiday pay. However, the conciliation process is still ongoing. I’m sure the Deputy will agree that it’s important to respect the established industrial relations mechanisms in place to address these matters.

In line with the Programme for Government’s commitment to a step change in the supports and services required by people with disabilities, my Department is currently undertaking work to examine how best a person-centred support model for learners with disabilities can be developed across further and higher education.

This pilot project is intended to inform future policy development to better support learners with disabilities in the tertiary education sector. Any specific further review of personal assistant services would be subject to the outcome of this wider project and the Workplace Relations Commission conciliation process.