Fórsa trade union have tabled a claim seeking public service status for secretaries and caretakers who are currently employed directly by schools and paid for by grant funding, but which did not include any other staff similarly employed by schools. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on the claim. On the 27th of October 2020, under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission, an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues with several key strands being identified and I support meaningful engagement by all parties.