Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. I agree school secretaries and caretakers play an absolutely essential and invaluable role in schools. Many of us know schools that simply could not operate without the school secretary or indeed the caretaker. I note the assimilation of school secretaries to a payroll administered by the Department has provided significant benefits where pay and access to leave are concerned. I note what the Deputy stated about the further requests from school secretaries and caretakers and I will raise that with the Minister for education, Deputy McEntee.

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