Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I recognise the important role cleaners play in the successful operation of schools in every year, but particularly so in the Covid-19 context.

I am very conscious of the superb work done on an ongoing basis by the cleaners in our schools.

Currently each school is required to have a Covid-19 response plan for safe operation through prevention, early detection and control of Covid-19 in line with public health advice. Cleaning is an important aspect of infection prevention and control measures in schools to minimise the risk of transmission of infection. Significant additional funding has been provided to all schools for putting in place additional cleaning, and funding is provided on a per capitabasis.

As the Deputy may be aware, cleaners are employed directly by schools using the ancillary grant mechanism to schools. In education and training board, ETB, schools, cleaners are employed directly by that board. The provision of a pension is therefore a matter for the respective individual school or education and training board. Schools and ETBs, as employers, are obliged to provide access to a personal retirement savings account.

In line with the Government Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023, the Government has committed to developing and implementing a State-sponsored, automatic enrolment, supplementary retirement savings system by 2022. Under automatic enrolment, employees without personal retirement savings who meet certain age and earnings criteria will be automatically enrolled into a State-sponsored, quality-assured, supplementary retirement savings system, with freedom of choice, as always, to opt out.

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