317. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reasons agreed local bargaining measures were withdrawn for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54426/26]

318. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address issues that have arisen around a local bargaining measure (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54427/26]

320. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the legal or contractual basis under which her Department decided to withdraw the agreed local bargaining measures for SNAs; 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; the reason members were asked to vote separately on the local bargaining proposal if it was dependent on the outcome of a separate ballot; if her Department will publish the correspondence or agreement upon which this decision has been based; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54465/26]

321. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the legal or contractual basis her Department has decided to withdraw the agreed local bargaining measures for SNA's; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54495/26]

322. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54496/26]

323. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54497/26]

325. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will publish the correspondence or agreement upon which the decision by her Department to withdraw the agreed local bargaining measures has been based; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54513/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 318, 320, 321, 322, 323 and 325 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.