Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1403. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on any plans to deal with issues being faced by adult educators across the ETB sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47624/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Deputy, for this question.

The Deputy is aware that after many years of work, through established industrial relations mechanisms, by my Department with the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Public Expenditure, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), and SIPTU and TUI, the new grade of Adult Educator was established in April 2024. This grade was developed in response to a claim by Adult Education Tutors and within the parameters of a Labour Court recommendation which acknowledged that, because of differences in the roles, qualifications and regulatory frameworks, any adult educator tutor grade could not involve alignment with teachers’ pay scales and terms of employment. It is optional for tutors whether they convert to the new grade or remain on existing terms.

Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are currently overseeing the implementation process for the new grade of adult educators. This is a complex process. Several documents prepared by ETBI including a contract template developed in agreement with the unions, instruct ETBs on how to implement the grade. In May, my officials issued an email to ETB CEOs noting my concern about the delays and instructing them to complete as a matter of priority. ETBI have confirmed that ETBs are now doing this. Based on information gathered from a recent sectoral survey, ETBI informed officials that nine ETBs expect to have paid arrears to tutors by the end of the year while the remaining ETBs will pay them next year. Officials, with SOLAS, ETBI and the ETBs are currently working together to resolve any issues as they arise in relation to implementation of the new grade.

In July, I advised in response to a similar PQ from the Deputy that a proportion of FET delivery staff are employed on fixed term contracts. This ensures an agile FET system with an ability to be responsive to dynamic local education, training and community needs. Such staff, and their contracts and hours, are managed within the parameters of employment law including the Fixed Term Workers Act 2003. Individual ETBs are the employers and, as such, are responsible for staffing matters with Ministerial consents and approvals as may be determined from time to time.