Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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492. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of alignment discussions on the Youthreach calendar year with the second level calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60771/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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By way of background for the Deputy, Youthreach provides a two-year education and training pathway for young people who have left mainstream education with limited qualifications. The programme supports learners in gaining the skills, knowledge, and confidence to progress to further education, training, or employment. Certification is typically achieved at Levels 3 and 4 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

In 2023, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) requested that the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) recommence conciliation on a previously submitted claim that sought alignment of the 225-day Youthreach calendar with that of the post-primary school calendar.

My Department has been engaging with the TUI on this and agreed on a structured approach to consider the proposal. As part of this process, officials have undertaken a comprehensive data collection exercise, consulted with key stakeholders, and analysed the data gathered. I expect to receive a paper for consideration in the coming weeks. This paper examines TUI’s proposal in terms of potential industrial relations implications, impacts on learners, value for money, and other relevant factors.

Given the significance of the proposed changes to the delivery of this important national programme, I am sure the Deputy will agree that, in considering TUI’s proposal, a thorough and evidence-informed process is essential.