Fórsa launched the second phase of its national campaign to highlight the valuable role of special needs assistants (SNAs) last week. The latest phase of the campaign will see the union’s 12,000 SNA members contacting all TDs and senators in the coming weeks to support Fórsa’s call for a review of the minimum SNA essential qualification, and to promote greater awareness of their complex role.

The chief medical officer Tony Holohan has said he’s drawing up plans for limited antigen testing in some schools. Fórsa says pilot schemes now appear likely, though more details are awaited.

Fórsa and other unions will expect an effective response to increased living costs when negotiations on a successor to the current public service pay agreement get underway next summer, according to the union’s general secretary Kevin Callinan.

Testing of a job evaluation scheme for clerical and administrative staff in institutes of technology and technological universities is expected to get underway in the New Year.

Fórsa and other unions have welcomed the publication of the Government’s ambitious climate action plan. But they stressed the need for strong action to ensure its implementation, and called for social dialogue and protection for workers and communities impacted by the move to a carbon-free economy.

Fórsa has welcomed announcements that new technological universities (TU) are be established in the north-west and south east. The north-west TU will be the fourth TU to be created since 2019, and it follows an application from Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny institutes of technology.

The contribution of public sector workers during the pandemic has boosted trust in public services over the last 18 months, according to HSE chief executive Paul Reid.