Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government commits to a just and fair society and a more inclusive prosperity.

Today, the Fórsa trade union is launching its Support Our Secretaries campaign, calling for respect and fair conditions for all school secretaries. The vast majority of salaries at primary school level, as the Tánaiste knows, are paid through the ancillary services grant, leaving those who are employed as school secretaries with very few legal protections. Only 10% of school secretaries are paid directly by the Department of Education and Skills. Many secretaries work throughout the year but are left dependent on social welfare through the summer holiday period. Many, after working for decades in schools, are left without pensions. Of 681 secretaries surveyed, 66% had no pension entitlement and 27% had no access to sick leave payment. Will the fair and just issues raised by this campaign be looked at by Government? Will school secretaries be paid in the normal way as full-time State workers?

See this speech in context