Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin stated that equality is at the heart of access. She talked about pay equality and the issue of teaching principals. I met a cohort of principals yesterday evening. It is a very difficult space for half of the primary schoolteachers who are teaching principals. It is an area in which I have given a commitment. Recently, at the Irish Primary Principals Network, IPPN, conference, I stated that I want to work on trying to alleviate the pressures on teaching principals. It is a piece of work that I am going to work on and take seriously.

The status of caretakers and school secretaries was mentioned. Fórsa now has a campaign. I am on public record as saying that if there is to be a conversation it has to be within the parameters of the Workplace Relations Commission. My officials and I are happy to engage in that regard.

In terms of the language used when describing school openings, when a school gets its patronage and status as a school, be it a Gaelscoil, an education and training board, ETB, or an Educate Together school then word goes out that a new school is opening and creates that perception. We have to look and reflect because it is going to be temporary accommodation for a period before there is a full school. There is a piece of work that we can do there.

Relationship and sexuality education, RSE, is under review. That was started last Easter by my predecessor. I will keep the committee up to speed on where we are at in terms of the issue.

In terms of resilience training and mindfulness, specific questions were asked around how schools get resilience training and how they get targeted. I will get back to the committee on that particular question.

The strategy and the sustainable development goals, SDGs, were mentioned. That is an area on which I have been working closely with my colleagues in the Department. Young people are interested in the area whether it is the environment, sustainability, migration, social inclusion, disadvantage or economic disadvantage. Teachers and students are embracing the area and I am interested in seeing whether we can add more value to that.

Broadband was mentioned. I am working closely with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Richard Bruton. We have a strategy for the schools but I know that some schools still lose out, particularly primary schools in rural areas. Senator Conway mentioned what a school in west Clare has done. In between now and getting the national broadband plan the school is considering a wireless solution. I know it is not a long-term solution but it does give the school 17 megabytes as opposed to the existing 3 megabytes.

Senator Higgins asked about the history review. We plan to complete the review by the end of the first quarter, which is the end of next month. I will keep the committee up to speed on the issue.