O’Brien welcomes progress on pay & conditions for school secretaries and caretakers

Local Minister Darragh O’Brien TD has welcomed the positive progress being made in relation to regularising pay and conditions for school secretaries and caretakers.
Minister O’Brien, who along with his Fianna Fáil Party colleagues, campaigned for an end to the two tier structure which saw some school secretaries at a disadvantage when it came to sick leave, certainty of hours or pay increases, said it was important that Minister Foley move quickly on the issue.
He said, “Everyone knows their school secretary and caretaker - they are integral to the running of a school and have been taking on more responsibilities than ever, from assisting principals with complex administration, to organising fundraising for school events.
“They really are the backbone of most schools and oftentimes the first port of call for students and parents and it’s important that this is recognised.
“My Cabinet colleague Minister Foley has already made strides in key education commitments. An admin day for teaching principals and a reduction in class sizes have both been announced as part of the Stimulus package and Budget respectively.
“In these difficult times where we are expecting a lot from our schools it’s important that they know that they are valued and appreciated,” he concluded.