Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Enright for raising this important issue. I note that even at this early stage the Minister obviously has issues, as she disagrees with it. However, that is what politics is about. The purpose of the motion is to highlight some of the issues we need to rectify. I support the call for the Government to publish immediately the final report of the task force on student behaviour, which was chaired by Dr. Maeve Martin. In its legislative response to tackling school discipline problems, the Government must give its response to the difficulties posed in section 29 of the Education Act, a point to which I shall return later. It also needs to put in place measures to turn schools into suitable places to teach and to learn and ensure that the national anti-bullying strategy is implemented.

I have spoken to young teachers, often young female secondary school teachers, who have just got their first jobs. Those teaching in schools in areas of high-density population find it intolerable. They wonder what they have got themselves into. If nothing is done, we will lose some of them and in the longer term we will lose more of them. In a school with discipline problems it is impossible to get proper educational performance from students.

The interim report of the task force on student behaviour clearly points out the disruptive behaviour in our schools, including threats against teachers and their property. It also goes on to highlight fighting, assault and the carrying of dangerous weapons on school property. Even some examples of school behaviour notified to the task force were of such a serious nature as to be considered to be criminal behaviour. Those are the task force's comments and not mine.

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