I ask the Minister about education and training board, ETB, adult education tutors. I will join them tomorrow outside the office of the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, for a protest. In 2020, the Labour Court issued a recommendation to sort out the messy contracts and pay scales and the fact these workers have to sign on during holiday periods. Nothing has been done about it. A month ago at the TUI conference, the Minister said the contract would be with them within days. Since 2020, the Labour Court recommendation has sat in the Department and has not been acted on. These are fine, dedicated and committed adult education tutors who have messy contracts and poor salaries. Their issues need to be sorted out, as per the Labour Court recommendation. They are undervalued yet provide an essential service, mostly to people whom the education system failed in the first place during their childhoods. I want the Minister to look into this as a matter of urgency. We will be outside the Department tomorrow from 2 p.m. and I urge other Deputies to join us.

I thank Deputy Smith. My understanding is that following discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, approval for an offer to be made to the unions has been agreed. The proposal is that a grade of adult educator will be formally established, with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach resource persons scale. The grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs to deliver further education and training programmes who are currently employed under a variety of terms and conditions. A formal offer has issued to the unions and both sides are meeting to discuss the details of the offer. It is to be hoped agreement can be reached very shortly.

Great news.