4240. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on his plans to deal with issues being faced by adult educators across the ETB sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59354/26]

In the first instance, I want to recognise the key role of adult educators in supporting lifelong learning, skills development, social inclusion and community participation, in the context of a responsive, agile, and sustainable Further Education and Training system.

The Adult Educator grade was established in 2024, following a claim with several parts from SIPTU and TUI to regularise employment contracts for adult education tutors. The introduction of the new grade was the result of an extensive and detailed process, reflecting both the variety of existing contracts, and the complex nature of the work undertaken by a large and heterogeneous cohort of staff.

The new grade provides a standardised pay scale and enables incremental salary progression for adult educators across the ETB sector. ETBI has developed implementation guidance and supporting documentation in agreement with the relevant unions, and my Department continues to work with SOLAS, ETBI and the ETBs to support completion of the implementation process.

With respect to specific cases, I would note that staffing matters, including the employment arrangements of individual adult educators, are operational matters in the first instance for the relevant ETB as employer, within the applicable legislative and industrial relations framework.