Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
777. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the decision to place adult education tutors on the Youthreach resource person incremental payscale; the number of persons impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73349/25]
View answerAdult educators and tutors play an important role in empowering individuals, broadening access to learning, and in strengthening communities in the Further Education and Training sector. Following many years of work through the 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.
I would like to clarify that while the payscale of this new grade is aligned with that of the Youthreach Resource Person payscale, they are different grades.This Adult Educator 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 or 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. There were approximately 2,800 adult education tutors and it is anticipated that over half of tutors will convert to the new grade.The implementation process is complex.
In May, my officials issued an email to ETB CEOs noting my concern about the delays and instructing them to complete as soon as possible. ETBI have confirmed that all ETBs are continuing to work on the implementation process as a matter of priority. Officials, with SOLAS, ETBI and the ETBs are currently working together to clarify issues as they arise so that the implementation process can be completed as soon as possible. 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. Each ETB will complete the process and award the back pay at different times. Following a sectoral survey, ETBI recently informed my officials that good progress is being made.
