Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
345. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the legal or contractual basis her Department decided to withdraw the agreed local bargaining measures for SNAs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53587/26]
View answer346. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will identify the clause within the public service agreement, local bargaining agreement or any other written agreement that made implementation of the local bargaining measures conditional upon acceptance of the Workforce Development Plan (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53588/26]
View answer347. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason members were asked to vote separately on the local bargaining proposal, if it was dependent on the outcome of a separate ballot (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53589/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 345 to 347, inclusive, together.
Chapter 4 of the outgoing Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024–2026 provides for Local Bargaining, a mechanism through which employers and trade unions may agree changes to structures, work practices and conditions of service in return for an agreed local bargaining payment.
A key part of the local bargaining process, agreed between the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER) and the Public Services Committee of ICTU, is that parties at sectoral level agree reform measures known as ‘management priorities’ in return for payment of agreed local bargaining claims. It is a matter for each individual union to decide to proceed to ballot on any matter, including local bargaining.
My department is considering written correspondence received from Fórsa on 9 July 2026 regarding the outcome of their recent ballots. My department remains committed to constructive engagement with Fórsa and is available to continue discussions on these matters.
