Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegation for appearing before us today and apologise for being late. I had a referendum meeting beforehand. I really appreciate the delegation's appearing before us. Unlike many people we see sitting on that side of the table, the delegation does not have to be here, and the fact that it is here is very important. I found this process over the past number of meetings very useful and educational in my role as a public representative. Other colleagues have used the word "complex". It has been shown that the issue is more complex than any of us, including the delegation, thought, so it has been a useful and measured discussion. I hope we can put together a good report following on from this.

I have seen positive changes in the teaching practices of teachers, but what really frustrates me and many teachers to whom I have spoken is the fact that teachers are not allowed to spend the additional hours they must now spend in school because of the Croke Park agreement with students. There is a knock-on effect whereby the mathematics teacher who for the past 20 years has given the extra hour on a Wednesday afternoon is no longer in a position to do so. Was it the union's position or that of the Croke Park implementation group that the extra hours had to be spent on planning, meetings and the like? Obviously, there is a role for that but I am worried by it and have seen anecdotal evidence of it in respect of extracurricular activities and grinds, for want of a better word, that teachers have provided. There is possibly a better way in which some of those Croke Park hours could be spent. That is certainly the message I am hearing from teachers.