EDUCATION MINISTER HELEN McEntee has said she hopes agreement can be reached to avert next week’s planned indefinite strike by school secretaries and caretakers.

“I don’t want to see secretaries striking – secretaries I know don’t want to strike, so I really do hope that we can reach an agreement,” she told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

The minister said she believed progress could still be made through talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), which she has asked to intervene.

“I think we can make progress, I think it only happens by everybody coming together. That’s why I’ve asked the WRC to intervene here, because I think it is the best mechanism that we have for these types of disputes,” McEntee said.

Thousands of secretaries and caretakers are due to begin strike action from Thursday in a long-running dispute over pensions and public sector status.

Fórsa says its union members are treated as “second-class staff” compared to teachers and special needs assistants, with 98% backing indefinite strike action.

Minister McEntee acknowledged the frustration but said “really good progress” was made in recent years.

“Secretaries are an absolutely integral part of our school. We all know them. We all know our schools don’t function without them.

“The progress over recent years, whether it’s bringing secretaries on to the Department of Education payroll, making sure they don’t have to sign on in the summer, pay increases, linking that with public sector pay and other entitlements, that’s been really positive.

“I think we can make more progress,” McEntee added.

McEntee made no comment on caretakers.

Unions say schools, particularly smaller primary schools where caretakers are the only keyholders, could face disruption or closure if the strike goes ahead.

Fórsa members also plan to rally outside the Department of Public Expenditure on Merrion Street on the first day of the action.

Labour’s education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny urged McEntee to step in, saying secretaries and caretakers are vital to school life and deserve fair treatment.

He described the dispute as one of “equality, fairness and basic employment rights” and appealed to the minister to show leadership before pupils return to classrooms after the summer break.

“The Department is aware the strike is going ahead, they’ve sent out correspondence to schools, and they’re yet to actually acknowledge Forsa or the workers they represent,” Kenny said.

“The silence from the Minister is deafening and it is not going to help resolve this situation.

“I would implore with the Minister to show leadership and intervene in their dispute before all schools return from the summer break,” Kenny added.