Staff and students from Sligo-Leitrim Community Training Centres visit Leinster House as strike looms
Addressing Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Sligo/Leitrim Nessa Cosgrove said that Youthreach and community training centres provide educational opportunities for young people “when mainstream education fails to meet their learning needs.”
Following the visit of students and staff from Sligo-Leitrim Community Training Centres to Leinster House last week Sligo/Leitrim Nessa Cosgrove raised the issue of restoration of pay alignment between staff in Youthreach and those employed by Community Training Centres (CTCs).
Addressing Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Sligo/Leitrim Nessa Cosgrove said that Youthreach and community training centres provide educational opportunities for young people “when mainstream education fails to meet their learning needs.”
She continued: “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.”
She continued that, in her view, the adult educators and resource staff have “been underpaid for many years”.
She added: “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.”
She continued that 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 and were offered a “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.”
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Minister Dillon promised to take the matter on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science. “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.”
He noted that SIPTU is seeking a 9.25% pay increase which aligns with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement while the Department has supported an offer of 7%, following budget 2026. “It is important that matters progress through the industrial relations machinery of the State and, specifically, the WRC, with conciliation under way.”
He concluded:.” We hope the issue will be resolved in a swift manner.”
Senator Cosgrove said his response was “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%. “
Minister Dillon responed that it 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. There is an offer on the table.”