Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Education and Skills

School Staff

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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487. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that all school secretaries and caretakers have access to the pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46422/24]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. 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) and also includes revised terms and conditions for secretaries.

The Agreement however, outlined within Circular 0036/2020 which has provided for revised salary and annual leave entitlements, did not grant school secretaries with public servant status.

The school remains the employer of school secretaries and it is their obligation to provide access to a PRSA scheme for employees. For secretaries who are paid through the Department-administered payroll, a facility is now being offered to join a PRSA scheme administered by Cornmarket with contributions being deducted at source. Should secretaries wish to avail of this option, they can contact Cornmarket directly – the participation of individuals in any scheme is a matter between the individual and the service provider.

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.

At present, work is ongoing to review the results of the compressive survey which will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patters as well as terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. In parallel with this, the Department are actively in communication with Fórsa on this important issue and regular bilateral meetings are occurring. Matters discussed have contributed to a clearer understanding of the differences in existing terms and conditions of caretakers to secretaries and have been helpful in forming and developing the survey.

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 under 0036/2022 can occur only under those processes and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by the Department, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the relevant unions.

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