1354. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason post-primary teachers have not yet received the 1% local bargaining payment due from September 2025; the specific factors preventing implementation of the payment; the reason other groups have had bargaining arrangements processed while post-primary teachers have not; if a date for implementation and payment is agreed; if not, when the Government will be in a position to confirm a date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60902/26]

Additional amendments to teacher Terms and Conditions, including amendments to allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the Public Service unions. Such changes can occur only under those processes, and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by the Department, DPER and the relevant unions.

The last Public Service Agreement, negotiated between the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Public Services Committee of ICTU, included a Local Bargaining clause. Under this clause, employers and trade unions can agree changes to structures, work practices and conditions of service in return for an agreed local bargaining payment of 1%.

It is a matter for each trade union to negotiate local bargaining claims on behalf of their members. In respect of post-primary teachers the management priorities for local bargaining for post-primary teachers were agreed between the Department of Education and Youth and both post-primary unions (TUI and ASTI) under the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Support Measures (SCRISM) agreement reached in May 2025. This agreement was subsequently ratified by both unions representing post-primary teachers, the TUI by ballot in June 2025 and the ASTI earlier this year following a ballot in June 2026.

Local bargaining discussions between parties are ongoing. Given the parties remain in process and discussions between parties remain confidential, it is not appropriate to make any further comment on the ballot at this time.