Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) for moderate general learning disability classes is not on par with the SNA allocation in autism spectrum disorder classes given that the social-emotional and medical needs are complex in these classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39702/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive a befitting education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided. These classes are resourced in line with the Special Education Review Committee's recommendations. This ensures that these classes continue to meet the needs of students who are enrolled and the class is as inclusive as possible in that as many children as possible are accommodated.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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520. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that school secretaries have pension parity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39709/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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521. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that school caretakers have pension parity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39710/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together.

The Department recognises the vitally important role of Secretaries within school communities, as a key link between students, parents, school leaders and other staff ensuring that the administrative needs of the school are met. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable.

The Department of Education and Youth is not the direct employer of former grant funded school secretaries, but rather has been providing a payroll service for this cohort of secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. The provision of this 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) in 2022. This was implemented under Circular 0036/2022. The agreement provided both pay stability and additional employment benefits for secretaries, who signed up for the package, such as: a pay scale aligned with that of Grade III/CO in ETBs, improved annual leave entitlements, improved maternity provisions, and paid sick leave in excess of the statutory requirement. It also made some provision for incremental credit, recognising previous relevant experience in their current or previous employing school. In addition, it was agreed that pay increases under future national agreements will be passed onto secretaries and this has happened with each pay increase since the implementation of the agreement.

The agreement which was given effect under Circular 36/2022 did not grant public servant status to school secretaries and therefore this cohort do not have access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. The granting of such status is not a matter that this department can decide unilaterally, and proposals in this regard will need to be considered in detail by this department and the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

At present, work is ongoing to review results of a comprehensive survey which will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patterns as well as terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. The Department is committed to ensuring that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of a similar package offered to school secretaries, taking into account the differences in role, in the near future.

As is established process, requested changes to the terms and conditions agreed for these secretaries under Circular 0036/2022 must be considered under industrial relations processes, including engagement between this Department and the union representing the staff concerned, and discussion between this Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, as the granting or otherwise of public servant status is not within the scope of this Department.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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522. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the formulas for the allocation of hours to schools for secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39711/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Work is currently underway on developing and publishing an allocation model for school secretaries. This is a complex task and requires factoring in a number of elements - such as school status, class type, enrolment numbers, and existing secretary arrangements - to ensure that the final model is fair to all schools whilst also meeting their practical needs.

Up to the publication of the allocation model, requests for increases in the secretary allocation are being considered on a case-by-case basis. Schools seeking an increase should email secretaryreturns@education.gov.ie

All requests that have been received and dealt with in this interim period will be reviewed again when the allocation model is published.