Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
499. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made in addressing the contract of employment of school caretakers; her plans to include them under her Department; her timeframe for negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12681/24]
View answerCaretakers are valued and vital members of the school system. The majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a caretaker under these grant schemes to support those functions, those staff members are employees of the individual schools and as such the responsibility for the terms and conditions of employment such as contracts as well as rates of pay currently rests with the school.
The February 2022 agreement for revised salary and annual leave entitlements for grant funded school secretaries is now fully operational, and the lessons learned from that process are forming a key element in negotiating and implementing a similar package for grant funded school caretakers.
At present work is ongoing in my Department to develop a comprehensive survey which will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patterns as well as the terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. In parallel with this, officials from the Department and Fórsa are currently in communication on this important issue and have begun initial discussions with the union with an aim of progressing this matter as soon as reasonably possible.
