Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
786. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason ETB tutors have been told they cannot work more than 20 hours per week (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73608/25]
View answerI appreciate that there has been some confusion regarding the introduction of the new Adult Educator grade and how whole-time equivalent (WTE) hours are calculated for pay purposes. I want to take this opportunity to clarify the position.
Under the contractual framework for this new grade outlined in Information Note ESR ETB 0001/2024 issued to the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in April 2024, a WTE post is calculated as follows:
• 20 hours of learner delivery per week; 15 hours of non-contact time per week.
This equates to the contractual obligations of an Adult Educator to deliver 1,044 contact hours and an associated 782 non-contact hours for a WTE post per year, equating to a total of 1,826 hours for a WTE. The WTE equivalent of 1,044 contact hours represents the maximum annual contact hours for a full-time Adult Educator, ensuring compliance with the Haddington Road Agreement. The non-contact time, equivalent to 782 non-contact hours, is not formally timetabled but is expected to be used for essential professional activities such as programme development, lesson preparation, learner assessment, and continuing professional development.
Flexibility remains for part-time arrangements and additional hours where appropriate, subject to compliance with the Organisation of Working Time Act and other relevant agreements.The Deputy may recall that in 2024 a new grade of Adult Educator was created following a Labour Court recommendation. This was the culmination of many years of work by my Department, in close collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Public Expenditure, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), and with the strong support of the unions SIPTU and TUI. This new grade provides a standardised pay scale aligned to the Youthreach Resource Person grade, delivering incremental progression for Adult Educators.
These arrangements were formally communicated to ETBs by the Department of Education and Youth in April 2024. Tutors who choose to assimilate onto the new contract will benefit from these standardised terms. Those who do not will remain on their existing contractual arrangements. Finally, it should be noted that individual ETBs are the employers and, as such, are responsible for staffing matters such as contracts, subject to Ministerial consents and approvals as may be determined from time to time.
