Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2023
114. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if school cleaners will receive a pay increase under the recent pay agreement; if not, when they will receive a pay increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34495/23]
View answer"Building Momentum – a new public service agreement, 2021-2022" was agreed between Government and Unions in 2020 and was extended last year to run until 31 December this year. The agreement provides for a number of pay increases over the period of the agreement.
These pay increases apply to public servants, subject to compliance with sectoral action plans and industrial peace provisions of the agreement. The increase does not automatically apply beyond public servants and therefore grant funded school staff such as cleaners employed directly by schools are not comprehended by the agreement.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs. Where a school uses the grant funding for cleaning services, any staff taken on to support those functions are employees of individual schools. Specific responsibility for the pay and conditions rests with the school.
