Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy rationale for school secretaries not getting the same Covid leave (five days) as teachers and SNAs, given that they are as exposed to the school population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44053/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries which are covered under the terms of Circular 36/2022.

The provision of a payroll service is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

While this agreement includes revised terms and conditions related to salary and leave entitlements, it does not accord public servant status to school secretaries who have agreed to accept these revised terms. It is also important to note that the school remains the employer of secretaries.

The revised leave arrangements which have been included in the agreement are set with reference to statutory leave entitlements. While statutory entitlements such as annual/sick leave etc. are obligations which employers must provide to employees under legislation, other leave types (such as paid COVID-19 leave) are not underpinned by legislation and are generally negotiated, either at a local level or through collective deliberations.

In the normal course, there are ongoing discussions with the public service unions on matters relating to pay agreements as well as general terms and conditions of employment. Any changes to the terms and conditions agreed can occur only under those processes and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by this Department, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDPR) and the relevant union.