A Co Kildare TD has called on the Government to address the inequality that exists in relation to pay for our school secretaries.
Deputy Frank O'Rourke said: “While I appreciate that there is rightly a focus on ensuring that we address the inequality in relation to teachers pay, we need also to address the inequality in relation to school secretary pay.”
He said:“School secretaries provide a very important service to our community. There are the first point of contact for parents when they contact the school and assist in the smooth running of the school.”
Deputy O'Rourke said:“In my view, school secretaries are being treated like second-class employees by the Government, with some earning as little as €12,000 a year while those paid directly by the Department of Education and Skills, are on salaries varying between €24,000 and €44,711 a year.”
He said:“There are approximately 3,500 school secretaries working in our education system and approximately 10 per cent of those are paid directly by the Department of Education and Skills.Many have no entitlement to sick pay or maternity leave.”
He said:“We must address this inequality. Over the last number of months, I have met with school secretaries working in schools in Kildare and they have raised this issue with me. I will continue to work with our Education Spokesperson Thomas Byrne TD, to ensure that the Government priorities this issue.”
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