Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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955. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the upcoming situation facing adult educators who will have to draw down the dole for the Christmas period closure of their classrooms; if he will engage with FET colleges on the matter; and his plans to resolve this shortfall for those impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66014/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2024, the new grade of adult educator was established, in agreement with SIPTU and TUI. This followed many years of work by my Department, with the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Public Expenditure, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), and the relevant trade unions, SIPTU and TUI.

This grade was established in response to a claim by tutors and the subsequent Labour Court recommendation. The recommendation specified that any new grade could not align with teachers due to differences in the roles, qualifications and regulatory frameworks for tutors and teachers.

Depending on the duration of a contract and whether the adult educator opted for salary spread (those who work 37 weeks or more can opt for salary spread over 52 weeks), there will be instances where annual leave does not cover non-delivery periods/centre closures and there will be temporary lay offs. This is the case for many categories of workers in education. Annual leave for adult educators is 35 days (pro-rated). Leave is used to reduce periods of layoff at traditional closure periods. It cannot be used during delivery periods.

Educational Support Workers, including adult educators, who wish to avail of income support while temporarily being laid-off can apply for jobseekers’ payments. Applicants must satisfy the qualifying conditions. Those who have previously been in contact with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) are issued with repeat jobseekers’ application and holiday entitlement forms in advance of college/school closures. This advance process expediates such workers’ claims. In recent years, DSP has resourced dedicated teams to work on Educational Support Workers’ claims to minimise delays. If any DSP customer is in urgent financial need, DSP’s Community Welfare Service can provide assistance while they wait for their claim to be processed.

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.