Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has welcomed substantial pay increases for personal assistants at third level institutions which will boost the wages of workers in colleges like Ó Fiaich, Drogheda Institute of Further and Higher Education and Cavan Institute.

Deputy Ó Murchú has been working with PAs for nearly two years to secure better pay and conditions and welcomed last night’s announcement from Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, that the hourly rate for PAs would increase from March 1 to €21 per hour.

The increase means the hourly wages for PAs working in Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in the State would jump from the current rate of €14.72 on Friday.

Teachta Ó Murchú said:

“I have been working with PAs from Louth, Meath and Cavan over the last almost two years in order to try to improve terms and conditions for them.

“The news last night is very welcome and comes following my request that while Forsa’s formal pay claim is being considered, that the PAs would have some interim relief. But it is a first step.

“Many of the PAs that I am working with will, come the Easter break, have to fill in jobseeker applications in order to get some income when the colleges are off.

“They have to do this every time there is a break like Christmas and the summer. It causes incredible difficulties for them and they need a contract that is secure and reflects the incredible work they do in assisting people with disabilities through college courses.”