Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Dillon. Youthreach and community training centres, CTCs, provide educational opportunities for young people when mainstream education fails to meet their learning needs or is not suited to those needs. These learners often come from hard-to-reach communities and communities that are excluded and often live with disadvantage. In Youthreach and CTC programmes, learners aged between 15 and 21 work towards achieving Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, levels 3 and 4 qualifications, which are equivalent to junior cert and leaving cert applied.

Students in Sligo and Leitrim CTC have the opportunity to study computers, catering, hairdressing, sports and recreation, and car maintenance. A major part of these courses is the linked work experience, which can lead to full-time employment or an apprenticeship. This is down to not only the active engagement of the learners but also to the staff - the adult educators and resource people who deliver the training and learning on a daily basis.

These critical workers have been underpaid for many years. I know this having worked very closely with them. There are other factors, including the failure of the Department to correct disparities in the academic calendar which mean that these resource teachers often feel undervalued compared with mainstream educators.

Most secondary school teachers accept that while these educators deliver education differently and in a different environment, they are very much equals as professionals. In many cases, however, they face a tougher job than a lot of mainstream school teachers. They possess a unique set of attributes and skills which meet the holistic needs of young people who they work with every day. However, educators employed by community training centres are employed with less pay and weaker terms and conditions not only to mainstream secondary teachers but also to their Youthreach counterparts. Historically, there was a pay alignment between Youthreach and those employed by the CTCs. This parity lapsed some years ago. It is the restoration of that parity which is the subject of the dispute that CTC staff are currently engaged in.

SOLAS, the Irish Association of Community Training Organisations, IACTO, the education and training boards, ETBs, and SIPTU, their trade union, all met and agreed to a pay rise of 9.25% with the Department of further and higher education. The Department sought funding from Department of public expenditure and reform. However, the latter came back with a disappointing offer of 7% to be paid over 18 months which SIPTU, correctly, deemed unacceptable. This resulted in the balloting of SIPTU members, who voted 98% in favour of industrial action. Unless the situation is de-escalated immediately by the Government, this industrial action could lead to all-out strike action. The last thing these dedicated educators want to do is to disrupt the learning of a group who are among the most vulnerable learners and who depend on stability and predictability. However, the lack of regard that has been shown to resource tutors and adult educators is such that they now feel they have no option but to press ahead with industrial action. Such action will cause severe disruption. The responsibility lies with the Government to ensure that industrial peace is maintained and that the dedicated education professionals are kept in the classroom where they belong and where they want to be, working with the vulnerable learners who they support so much.

The agreement with the Department of further education, and negotiated by Kevin Duffy, for an increase of 9.25% was not over-generous; it was fair. I hope the Government will honour it, but there seems to be an unwillingness to do this. From where does that unwillingness come? The Department of further and higher education has stated that it has sought the money but that the Department of Finance is unwilling to provide it.

I welcome the opportunity to address this important issue. I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising it. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science. I want to begin by acknowledging the vital work carried out by the staff in our community training centres. These staff play a critical role in respect of some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities, including early school leavers and those at risk of disengagement from education. I have visited many of the centres across Mayo, and their contribution is very much recognised, valued and deeply appreciated.

It is important to set out the context. Community training centres are independent, non-profit organisations that are grant funded by education and training boards. They operate with their own boards of directors as employers. The Department is not the direct employer of staff in the CTCs, and pay matters arise within the employer-employee relationship. I am aware that there is an ongoing pay dispute, which is something the Government regrets. SIPTU is seeking a 9.25% pay increase which aligns with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement relating to section 39 organisations. While the Department, through SOLAS, has supported an offer of 7%, following budget 2026, with funding ring-fenced for that purpose, agreement has not yet been reached and members have been balloted for industrial action. The Department and the Government have engaged extensively with stakeholders, including IACTO, as their employer body, SOLAS, as their funder, and SIPTU representatives. It is important that matters progress through the industrial relations machinery of the State and, specifically, the WRC, with conciliation under way.

The Senator raising the issue here today is import and timely. The Government strongly supports reaching a resolution through the established industrial relations mechanism. We hope the issue will be resolved in a swift manner.

Before I call on the Senator to respond, I welcome Fódhla Dunne from Tramore to the Gallery. She is here as a guest of Senator Joe Conway.

I thank the Minister of State for his response, which is very disappointing. It is an insult, and 7% is an insult. Section 56, section 10 and section 39 workers, Tús workers and Citizens Information employees all got the settlement of 9.25%. The latter are funded organisations as well, but the Government is saying that 7% is acceptable. The WRC ruled in favour of SIPTU in respect of the claim of 9.25%. It is very insulting that the Government has gone back to say that the workers should accept 7% when the WRC has issued a ruling in respect of the 9.25%. It is insulting to the people they are working with that their work is not appreciated. In comparison with secondary school teachers, there can be a discrepancy of €11,500, even though they are supporting the same young people and the same cohort. No one wants to go on strike, but 98% of CTC employees have balloted in favour of industrial action. The Government needs to start treating them with respect. What they are looking for is what those in similar groups that are funded by Departments - these are not directly employed staff - have received. It is imperative that the Government take this very seriously, because no one wants to go on strike.

The Government supports and recognises the work of these educators. Notwithstanding that, this is a complex industrial relations matter involving independent employers, trade unions and funders. The Senator has to recognise that. It must also be recognised that the Department is not the direct employer here. A funder offer has been made, which is also important to recognise, and the dispute has been progressed to the WRC. Our priority in this House and in the Dáil is fairness and for a sustainable resolution to be arrived at. There is an offer on the table.

Again, I want to recognise the contribution of all the staff who operate within available resources. I acknowledge the work they do to avoid disruption to any of the learners. It is important that we see a resolution. I would very much support that.