Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2010
711 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans for the remuneration of school secretaries; his further plans to bring this remuneration in line with the pay of equivalent staff of comparable level in Departments. [12387/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement in 2008, it was agreed that the relevant parties would enter into discussions regarding the terms and conditions, including remuneration, of both school secretaries and caretakers.
Following ratification of the Transitional Agreement by the Unions in November 2008, a forum was set up in December 2008 under whose auspices these discussions could be furthered. The forum is jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Finance, and also comprises the relevant School Management Bodies, and the relevant Unions (IMPACT and SIPTU).
As a first step, the forum decided to establish the factual position regarding the terms and conditions of employment of school secretaries and caretakers by conducting a comprehensive survey of schools. This survey was then developed by my Department, in consultation with the other members of the forum. As there are established terms and conditions for secretaries and caretakers employed in the Community & Comprehensive sector and the VEC sector, it was decided that the survey should only cover the primary and voluntary post-primary sectors.
This survey was then issued to all relevant schools on Monday, 20 April 2009. The results of the survey are currently being compiled by my Department and, once available, will inform the deliberations of the forum.
As the discussions of the forum are currently in progress it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment at this time.
