547. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education for an update on salary and pensions for caretakers in school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57240/23]

School caretakers are valued members of our school communities and the Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by such individuals in the running of our schools.

In 2022, a suite of measures designed to improve the working conditions of school secretaries was agreed and since then comprehensive work has been undertaken by the Department to move secretaries who have accepted this deal over to the Department's payroll give effect to the terms of the agreement.

The Department is committed to ensuring that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to also avail of a similar agreement in the near future. At present there remains a deficit of data on the working patterns, as well as the current terms and conditions of work for caretakers, and a separate, similar process to reach appropriate agreement and to give effect to this will be undertaken.