Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the hourly rate of pay set for personal assistants funded through SOLAS; and the hourly rate set for personal assistants funded through the Higher Education Authority. [30110/24]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department authorised SOLAS to increase the hourly rate for all Personal Assistants employed by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to €21 plus 8% holiday pay with effect from 1st March 2024. This is the only aspect of the terms of employment of Personal Assistants that changed, and Personal Assistants will only be paid for hours of delivery. The approval of this hourly rate does not confer any entitlement to a public service pension scheme nor to public service status on the individuals employed by the ETB.

With regard to the higher education sector, there are differing arrangements in place with regard to Personal Assistants within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). These arrangements reflect the differing needs profiles of students within HEIs, with some directly employing Personal Assistants and others utilising third party providers. As autonomous institutions, HEIs are afforded the flexibility to identify the most appropriate arrangements to best support the identified needs of students. A standard rate of pay for Personal Assistants is not applicable due to the diversity of arrangements in the higher education sector.