Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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655. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 614 of 21 March 2023, the status of the work referred to relating to school caretakers; and when this work will be progressed and completed. [1568/24]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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656. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what plans are in place to ensure school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of a similar deal as school secretaries. [1569/24]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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657. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on any recent engagements her Department has had with a union (details supplied) with regard to school caretakers. [1570/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 655, 656 and 657 together.

Caretakers are valued and vital members of the school system. The majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a caretaker under these grant schemes to support those functions, those staff members are employees of the individual schools and as such the responsibility for the terms and conditions of employment currently rests with the school.

The February 2022 agreement for revised salary and annual leave entitlements for grant funded school secretaries is now fully operational, and the lessons learned from that process will form a key element in negotiating and implementing a similar package for grant funded school caretakers.

At present work is ongoing in my Department to develop a comprehensive survey which will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patterns as well as the terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. In parallel with this, officials from the Department and Fórsa are currently in communication on this important issue and anticipate that a meeting will be scheduled in the near future to progress the matter.