Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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297. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to resolve outstanding issues in respect of pension parity for school caretakers and secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68988/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Recognising the vitally important role of secretaries and caretakers within school communities, Department officials have been working intensively with stakeholders, with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, to establish a platform for meaningful discussion and resolution.

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.

My Department has been engaging with Fórsa over the past number of weeks under the auspices of the WRC. The matter has now been referred to the Labour Court, and a hearing will take place on 12 January 2026. The parties remain in process, and my Department remains committed and ready to engage with Fórsa to reach a resolution on this important matter. As with any industrial relations process the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.