Written answers

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Department of Education and Skills

School Staff

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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495. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review correspondence (details supplied); the status of the talks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9919/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.

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.

The Department with school management bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on a claim on terms and conditions for grant-funded school secretaries. On the 27th of October 2020, under the auspices of the WRC, an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues. Several key strands were identified, and a phased approach is being taken to the development of proposals.

Following intensive discussions at the WRC on 13th September 2021, there was significant progress in this dispute. The Department has offered to move School Secretaries’ pay rates to a scale which is aligned with the Clerical Officer Grade III pay scale, on a pro rata basis according to a secretary’s current working pattern. The Department has additionally offered to improve the conditions for School Secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions. These offers are subject to agreement on all elements of the claim. Engagement is continuing, with the aim of reaching an overall agreement: the most recent formal talks took place at a meeting at the WRC on 26 January, and the parties are to meet again later this week, following reflection on the matters discussed at that meeting.

Public servant status and the associated access to a public service pension scheme is not a part of the current offer. As previously set out in the joint statement following the WRC engagement in May 2021, the final element of the claim in respect of public service status is acknowledged by all parties to be more complex and will require more detailed analysis and consideration following the conclusion of current discussions.

I welcome the continued engagement between the parties and I encourage all stakeholders to focus on finalising an agreement

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