Brendan Griffin
Question:63. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if caretakers in schools will be recognised and receive benefits under her Department and statement (details supplied). [15521/24]
View answerWednesday, 10 April 2024
Questions (63)
Written answers
Caretakers 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 now playing a key element in negotiating and implementing a similar package for grant funded school caretakers.
At present work is ongoing in my Department to finalise 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 aim of progressing this matter as soon as reasonably possible.