From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State for Further Education Niall Collins have announced a 5% pay increase for managers, instructors and clerical staff in Community Training Centres and Co-ordinators and Assistant Co-ordinators in Local Training Initiatives.
This pay deal will benefit some 400 staff working in Community Training Centres and Local Training Initiatives at the aforementioned grades, across the country.
These employees will receive a 5% pay increase, with 3% effective from 1 April 2023, and a further 2% effective from 1 November 2023.
Speaking on the agreement of the pay award, Minister Harris said:
"I am delighted to announce that a pay award for these staff in Community Training Centres, following engagement under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commissions, has been agreed and accepted in a ballot of Union members. It is a positive outcome for both these staff and learners in Community Training Centres, that agreement has been reached.
"I am also pleased to announce that funding for a similar increase for Co-ordinators and Assistant Co-ordinators in the Local Training Initiatives is being provided by SOLAS to the Education and Training Boards who grant aid local community groups to undertake these programmes.
"Staff in these Community Training Centres and Local Training Initiatives provide a vital service for learners across the country, helping them to further their education, upskill, build their confidence and self-esteem and move towards employment.
"It is important to acknowledge the hard work of these staff and their dedication to support learners in their communities across the country."
Community Training Centres (CTCs) are non-profit making companies with Boards that are broadly representative of the community. Since 1977, CTCs have been involved in innovative training for marginalised groups and since the introduction of the Youthreach programme in 1989, their focus has been on Early School Leavers. Funded by SOLAS through the local Education and Training Boards, there are 31 Community Training Centres across the country serving over 2,000 Youthreach learners, aged 16-21 years of age.
Local Training Initiative programmes (LTIs) are project-based training and work experience programmes carried out in the local community run by local community groups and associations. LTI programmes enable local communities to carry-out valuable and necessary projects of benefit in their communities. They are primarily designed for unemployed people, who are experiencing difficulty in gaining entry to the labour market. Funded by SOLAS through the local Education and Training Boards, there are currently over 88 Local Training Initiatives across the country serving over 1,800 learners.
CTC and LTI programmes pay a key role in the delivery of Future FET:Transforming Learning, The National Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024. FET provides pathways for a diverse group of learners, supporting societal participation and strong communities, preparing people for successful careers and a lifetime of learning and development.
ETBs support a diverse network of community based providers and projects across the country and encourage innovation in ground-up community-based learning initiatives. Supported by SOLAS, the ETBs are fostering pathways for learners across community based programmes to wider learning pathways within FET and into Higher Education.