Fórsa trade union has confirmed that an agreement has been reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to bring the strike by school secretaries and caretakers to an end.

The union has announced that strike action will be withdrawn to allow for the implementation of the agreement.

A key element of the deal is a government commitment to negotiate comparable pension entitlements for school secretaries and caretakers.

According to Fórsa, this is a significant breakthrough, as it marks the first time the State has formally accepted that these staff should not be excluded from pension benefits similar to those of teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

The agreement also provides for structured discussions on other long-standing issues, including:

• A new pay framework for caretakers.

• Access to bereavement leave.

• Access to sick leave and acute illness protocols.

• Full implementation of payroll arrangements.

Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike, called the agreement a "major step forward" that reflects the determination of the striking workers. "It is now the responsibility of the State to honour this agreement and deliver on its commitments," he said.