Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) regarding pension parity for caretakers and secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2622/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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School secretaries and caretakers are at the heart of the school and are the key interface between students, parents, school leaders and other staff. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. In supporting these vital school staff members, we also support the school community as a whole.

My Department has been engaging with Fórsa and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation over the past number of months under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a number of claims, including a claim for a comparable pension entitlement.

The matter was referred to the Labour Court and a hearing took place on 12th January 2026, and both parties await the recommendation of the Court. 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, where engagement is sensitive and complex, the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.