The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Cathy Guirke €8,000 after finding that the Board of Management of Drumbaragh National School unfairly dismissed her from her part-time school secretary job. The decision was dated 23 May 2024.
The school said it made the role redundant because of financial difficulties. The WRC accepted that a genuine redundancy situation existed and found no unfair selection, but said the school had not meaningfully consulted Guirke. It did not explain what reductions in hours or pay might have avoided redundancy, and the decision to remove the post appeared to have been made before consultation ended. The WRC also found that the way her termination was handled was unreasonable.
The WRC also awarded Guirke €400 because the school had not provided a compliant written statement of her employment terms. It awarded a further €80 after finding that four public holidays fell on days she normally worked and that the holiday pay she received was insufficient. The €8,000 unfair dismissal compensation was in addition to the redundancy payment she had received.