Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to be able to speak in support of school secretaries. All public representatives, as well as anybody who has interaction with schools, whether they are parents or members of the community, will know the unbelievable amount of work school secretaries do. They are the rock within the school, they facilitate communication between parents and schools and they keep the school going. We have to make sure we take seriously the work of school secretaries and caretakers.

The debate is whether they are employed by the Department or another body. As sure as night follows day, a case will be taken and the Government and the State will have to open up to their responsibilities around employing school secretaries. We have to look for better conditions for these workers because they are a vital cog in our education community. Many other groups fall into this category and if it is not taken seriously and proper employment conditions not given to them, there will be a ruling against the State which will cost us enormously.

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