Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. King referred to teacher training which is a hobby horse of mine. I think teachers are the key to this but I appreciate that they find it difficult, challenging and are afraid of it. The word "mental" instils fear and I accept what Dr. Bates said, that it is a generational thing. Our generation associates the word "mental" with the red brick building over the River Lee in Cork. That is why we have a fear of it, but there is a new generation who have no hang-up about mental health issues. Maybe we need to grow out of that, as opposed to trying to change it. Feel the fear and do it anyway, and then progress and proceed.

Is Mr. King confident that steps are being taken, and that sufficient progress is being made, on teacher training?

I see my children at home and the level of trust, love and regard and so on they have nowadays for their teachers. It is very different from our day, when we viewed teachers as "them and us". This is an enormous asset to the system. It is important to be able to enhance and equip teachers and enable them to upskill and feel the fear but deal with it anyway. Are there significant developments in the direction of teacher training?