Report Paul Murphy
A revolt appears to be under way among Fine Gael councillors in Meath over the handling of the dispute involving school secretaries. A social media campaign led by FG Cllr Sharon Tolan – Minister Helen McEntee’s running mate in the last General Election – has been gathering strength among her fellow councillors. They are demanding fair pensions, sick leave and bereavement rights for the secretaries and caretakers.
In an embarrassing turn for the Minister, all 11 Fine Gael councillors on Meath County Council appeared in a whatsup post, including their pictures, hailing school staff as “the backbone of our schools”. While the councillors named senior Cabinet Ministers, the 11 avoided any mention of the Minister for Education.
A week into the school year, school bus contracts remain unsigned leaving students and parents to make their own way. Separately, a public meeting is being held at the troubled Rathkenny school, in the Minister’s constituency, where local people are demanding the Minister safeguard their school from closure or dangerous crossing threats.
The move by the councillors to openly support and lobby for the striking secretaries is being seen as the first sign of dissent in a normally-united Fine Gael Party in Meath. Separately, the strikers took their picket to the constituency office of Minister McEntee.
Sinn Fein spokesperson for Education and Youth Darren O’Rourke expressed solidarity with school secretaries and caretakers and called on Minister to act rationally and provide a fair agreement for “these essential school staff.”
