Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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777. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to offer a timeline for caretakers and cleaners to be transferred to the centralised public payroll as school secretaries were in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44762/25]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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962. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department plans to directly pay the salaries of school caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46546/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 962 together.

Recognising the vitally important role of secretaries and caretakers within school communities, my officials have been working intensively with stakeholders and with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to establish a platform for meaningful discussion and resolution. On Friday 5th September, following constructive engagement under the auspices of the WRC, the parties have agreed to participate in a process to resolve the issues in dispute. I very much welcome Fórsa’s agreement to withdraw strike action and enter discussions in the WRC. I also want to acknowledge the resilience and extensive effort of our school communities to keep schools open for children and young people over the course of the strike action, and the assistance provided by school management bodies in advising and supporting schools.

I believe that all parties have a responsibility to make sure that these talks succeed and that both sides must come together with an open mind without preconditions or pre-conceived ideas of a final outcome. Parties will commence engagement this week under the auspices of the WRC.