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

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. School caretakers are essential and they play a vital role in the life of any school, as do the school secretaries. Whenever I go into a school, I always describe the school secretaries as the engine room of the school because they make things tick for the principal and everybody else. That is generally the situation. Caretakers also have a particular role to play in terms of the spirit and environment within a school. I have seen that in many schools to great effect. The issue the Deputy is raising seems to relate to funding and how certain issues get resolved. Historically schools were in a far worse position when it came to secretaries and caretakers, as were the people who were employed as school secretaries and caretakers in terms of basic and pension rights, remuneration and so on. There were many challenges. Over the years, there has been incremental progress on that. When that progress happens, some of the funding pressures on schools are taken away. I will, however, talk to the Minister for Education about the issue the Deputy has raised and I will revert to her.

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