Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 June 2023
176. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if tutors currently working in the further education sector will retain the right to receive social welfare payments during holiday breaks if they decide to stay as they are and not accept the adult educator contracts recently offered to them by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31575/23]
View answerEligibility criteria for social welfare payments are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
Following discussions between my Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, a proposal issued to the Unions to establish a grade of Adult Educator with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. Tutors currently employed by ETBs will have the option of assimilating to the new scale or retaining their current employment arrangements. The Unions and Department officials are currently engaging on the operational aspects of the proposal. The provision of a pay scale will allow for incremental progression and a career path for tutors in the further education and training sector.
