Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A school not covered by the 2016-21 capital plan will need to look to the next capital plan if it wants a PE hall in its school. I am conscious that there are schools throughout the country that want a solution before 2021, 2022 or 2023. We need to work collectively on prioritisation of that.

Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked about secretarial and caretaking staff. Many of those are paid for out of ancillary funds. I am conscious that a campaign has started and the Deputy has advocated on behalf of them already. I have met Fórsa representatives. They are already engaging with the school secretaries. Not all secretaries fall into this complement. We have 1978-79 solutions for some school secretaries. When I go to primary schools and meet the secretaries, I find that they are very modest in highlighting the role they play. However, they play an integral part of the school. I met a school secretary in Drumshanbo in Leitrim yesterday. The principal outlined all the work she does. I am conscious that a body of work needs to be done there. My officials are on hand to meet Fórsa representatives. I have already said that on the public record when it was raised in the Dáil recently. A conversation needs to start and communication is key to finding a solution in this regard.