Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called on the Minister for Education to make immediate contact with Fórsa and confirm that the government is now willing to put the issue of pensions on the table as part of any negotiations to end the week-long strike by school secretaries and caretakers.
Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said:
“Minister McEntee indicated on RTÉ’s News at One today that everything, including pension parity, would be included in a talks process. While her comments are a welcome step in the right direction, the Minister must immediately follow this up by making direct contact with the workers’ trade union representatives and restating this commitment.
“Negotiating over the national airwaves will not resolve this dispute. Using all industrial relations mechanisms at their disposal is the only way both parties can bring this strike to an end.
“To achieve this, the government must ensure pension parity for school secretaries and caretakers, who have been treated like second-class citizens by the State.
“The Minister’s comments today, while sounding promising, must not be a false dawn for the striking workers. If industrial action is to be suspended, the Department of Education must make immediate contact with Fórsa and give a firm undertaking to end the impasse over the denial of public sector pensions to school secretaries and caretakers.”
September 5, 2025