John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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583. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm the current status of negotiations regarding bereavement leave entitlements for school secretaries now employed directly by her Department; if she will outline when parity with other public servants in this regard will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29839/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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School secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware and appreciative of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.

My Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries with effect from the 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 leave entitlements for school secretaries covered by the terms of the WRC agreement are set out in Department Circular 007/2024 and for the most part reflect statutory leave entitlements. The agreement did not contain a provision for other non-statutory leave types such as paid bereavement leave.

It should be noted also that whereas statutory entitlements such as annual leave, sick leave etc. are obligations which employers must provide to employees under legislation, other leave schemes such as paid bereavement leave are not underpinned by legislation and are generally negotiated, either at a local level or through collective bargaining.

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 Circular 0036/2022 and set out in Circular 007/2024 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, NDP Delivery and Reform and the relevant union (Fórsa).

I can confirm that Fórsa have submitted a claim in relation to the provision of paid bereavement leave for school secretaries and this claim is is currently being examined.