Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on continuing professional development for guidance counsellors in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the budget allocation for same in 2021. [7794/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The majority of CPD for guidance counsellors is provided by the Supervision of Guidance Counsellors programme administered by Monaghan Education Support Centre and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

Funding provided for CPD for guidance counsellors since 2018 is as follows:

2018 €0.138m

2019 €0.216m

2020 €0.186m

The provisional budget for 2021 is €0.189m

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of CPD moved online during 2020. This did not affect the level of CPD provided to guidance counsellors. The level of CPD provided was similar to 2019.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in finalising the pay and conditions for school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7808/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools.

In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school 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 Employee Assistance Service to all 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 rests with the school.

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. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019 and has been fully implemented.

The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a secretary or caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019 been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.

Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 agreement. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies have been engaging with with Fórsa on the claim, most recently on 27th of October 2020 under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.

At that meeting it was agreed that further discussions would be held under the auspices of the WRC with a view to assessing the individual elements comprising the totality of the union’s claims. It is noted that these WRC discussions are taking place within the context of recent Dáil comments concerning the regularisation of pay, conditions of employment and pension provision of school secretaries and caretakers.

I welcome and support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching an agreed outcome.