Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected timeline for the finalisation of the employment status for school caretakers in the education system (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38027/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Caretakers are valued members of our school communities who carry out work vital to the operations of our schools. At present, the majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under ancillary grant funding. Under the February 2022 agreement the implementation of revised salary and annual leave entitlements for school secretaries is now fully operational, and lessons learned from that process are now playing a key role in the drafting and implementation of a similar deal to be offered to grant funded school caretakers.

The Department is committed to ensuring that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail a similar package offered to school secretaries of revised salary and annual leave entitlements in the near future.

A survey was issued to schools for completion at the end of the 2023/24 school year, and work has now commenced in analysing the data that has been gathered. This information will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patterns as well as well as terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. The Department are also actively in communication with Fórsa on this important matter, matters discussed have contributed to a clearer understanding of the variety of terms and conditions of employment that exist for caretakers in our schools.

Once work has been completed in assessing the information obtained from this initial survey the Department will then be in a position to progress this claim further.