Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
328. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on improving pay, terms and conditions for school caretakers, following arrangements for secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22970/24]
View answerCaretakers are valued members of our school communities who carry out work vital to the operations of our schools. At present, the majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under ancillary grant funding. Under the February 2022 agreement the implementation of revised salary and annual leave entitlements for school secretaries is now fully operational, and lessons learned from that process are now playing a key role in the negotiating and implementation of a similar deal to be offered to grant funded school caretakers.
At present, work is ongoing within my Department to finalise and issue a compressive survey which will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patters as well as terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. It is anticipated that this survey will issue to schools in the near future. In parallel with this, the Department are actively in communication with Fórsa on this important issue and regular bilateral meetings are occurring. Matter discussed have contributed to a clearer understanding of the differences in existing terms and conditions of caretakers to secretaries and have been helpful in forming and developing the upcoming survey.
Once the survey has been issued and schools have returned their replies, the Department will then be in a position to progress this claim further.
