Meath pupils asked to bring soap and toilet paper to school as strike over work conditions continues
Bins are going unemptied, soap is not being refilled, and toilet rolls and hand towels are not being restocked at a national school in Meath, as the national strike by school caretakers and secretaries continues.
In a letter to parents, O’Growney National School in Athboy said children must now bring their own soap, paper towels, toilet rolls, and a plastic bag to take used towels home each day.
Food wrappers are also being sent home to reduce pressure on uncollected bins.
The school said it regretted that “this situation is occurring” but confirmed it stood “in solidarity” with its colleagues who are among the striking staff.
Parents have been urged to contact local TDs and councillors to press for a resolution. Some expressed frustration at the disruption.
One parent told The Irish Independent: “We fully support the caretakers and secretaries, but it’s very hard to explain to young children why they suddenly have to bring toilet rolls and soap in their schoolbags every day. It’s disruptive, and it shouldn’t have come to this. This is also basic hygiene and we are not happy about that.”
She added: “Hopefully the government will sort something out soon as it is not fair on kids.”
Local councillor David Gilroy, representing Athboy, voiced strong support for the striking workers.
“These are people who not only keep our schools running through their official duties, but who also provide an enormous range of soft supports to children, staff, and parents every single day,” he said.
“They are often the first face a child sees walking in the gate, the steady presence when things go wrong, and the people who keep the heart of the school community beating. They deserve to be respected and recognised properly by the State.”
While acknowledging the difficulties for families, Cllr Gilroy said the responsibility for the dispute lies with “a system that has undervalued them for far too long.”
“This issue should never have been allowed to reach this point. It is time for the Minister for Education to resolve it, not with temporary solutions but with a recognition of the essential contribution school caretakers and secretaries make. Schools do not function without them, and it is long past time that the State acknowledged that reality,” he said.
“The very last people who would want the current situation impacting the children are the people forced into this situation,”
Cllr Gilroy also confirmed he would be writing to Education Minister Helen McEntee to urge a swift resolution.