Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

369. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of achieving pay equality for school secretaries. [33160/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of achieving equality in terms of pension contributions and entitlements for school secretaries. [33161/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of her Department employing school cleaners who are paid through the auxiliary grant and paying them at the same level as equivalent staff in other parts of the public sector. [33162/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

372. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of her Department employing all workers currently paid under the auxiliary grant with the exception of secretaries and paying them at the same level as equivalent staff in other parts of the public sector. [33163/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of achieving pay equality for school cleaners. [33164/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of achieving pay equality for school caretakers. [33165/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 to 374, inclusive, together.

I am keenly aware of the vital contribution of support staff within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff in the running of our schools.

In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ replacement support staff (including a secretary, caretaker, cleaner or bus escort) in the event that support 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.

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. As a result my Department does not hold data on the estimated 15,000 staff concerned and is not in a position to provide costings. In terms of the current claim for secretaries and caretakers, my Department has recently completed a data gathering exercise in respect of school secretaries and caretakers paid by grant-funding which will inform costings of this claim.

An arbitration agreement was implemented for secretaries and caretakers over 2015-2019 which 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 that agreement seeking public sector status, including a pay scale and access to pension schemes, for secretaries and caretakers. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on the claim which does not include any other similarly employed school staff such as cleaners.

On the 27th of October 2020, under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues raised in the Fórsa claim. Several key strands have been identified, and a phased approach is being taken to the development of proposals. The parties continue to engage under the auspices of the WRC and I support meaningful engagement on this issue by all parties.