Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Foley, wants this resolved and is anxious and supportive of the talks process. The Minister, Deputy McGrath, wants it resolved also. Both of them have given this considerable momentum since the formation of the Government. As I said to the Deputy or another Member who raised the issue last week, there have been intensive discussions at the WRC from September of last year. Progress was made. The Department has moved to shift the pay rates of school secretaries to a scale that is aligned with the clerical officer grade 3 pay scale on a pro ratabasis according to a secretary's current working pattern. The Department has also offered to improve the conditions for school secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions. Further dialogue continues to take place. There was a meeting on 26 January and there is a further meeting tomorrow that is the result of the last meeting and reflections on that. I hope we can get this sorted.

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