Richard O'Donoghue TD Calls for Pension Parity for School Secretaries and Caretakers

Richard O'Donoghue TD, General Secretary of Independent Ireland, has called on the Government to grant immediate pension parity to school secretaries and caretakers. Despite being integral to the daily operations of schools and now paid directly by the Department of Education, these staff members remain excluded from the public service pension scheme.

"It's unacceptable that individuals who have dedicated decades to our educational system are denied the security of a pension," stated Deputy O'Donoghue. "This oversight not only undermines their invaluable contributions but also highlights a glaring inconsistency in how we value our school staff."

The trade union Fórsa has resumed its campaign for pay and pension justice for these essential workers, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this disparity.

Deputy O'Donoghue urges the Government to act swiftly, stating, "I welcome the recent agreement made with section 39 workers who have negotiated a 9.25% increase in pay, but we must also ensure that all school staff receive the pensions they rightfully deserve, they are an essential part of our education system and they deserve to be recognised for that."