Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries in our school communities. I absolutely recognise the very important work carried out by these staff and other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met Fórsa, which represents many of the secretaries working in our schools.

In recognition of their valuable role in our schools I have put in place special arrangements for the coming year, whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker in the event that staff who are at very high risk of contracting serious illness from Covid-19 cannot work on the school premises.

I have also extended the employment assistance scheme towards school staff including secretaries. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions, those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment actually rests with the schools.

On foot of a chairman's note to the Lansdowne Road agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. Last year, the trade union, Fórsa, tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 agreement. Officials from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as school management bodies, are currently in discussions with Fórsa under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.

I must remain cognisant of the implications arising from this claim across the wider education and public sector. An offer of a pay increase was made to Fórsa at a recent Workplace Relations Commission meeting but this was not acceptable to the union. The Workplace Relations Commission process remains ongoing.

In the current circumstances, Fórsa's intention to resume strike action later this month is regrettable. Any such action will impact on the day-to-day operation of schools at this most critical time. It could further disrupt tuition for students who have only recently returned to school after a six-month gap.

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