Noel Grealish (Galway West, Progressive Democrats)

I wish to share time with Deputy Peter Power.

I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak on this motion about school discipline. School discipline and how it is handled has changed. During my school days if one came home and told one's mother and father that one had been slapped at school, one was asked what one was up to and got another slap. The position has changed for the better.

I share many of the sentiments expressed in the first part of the Fine Gael motion. Few could fail to be concerned about growing indiscipline in schools, and it is a problem. I would not like the problem to be overstated. Certainly the level of school discipline has changed since my time at school and certainly the tactics employed to maintain discipline have changed utterly. While we all welcome the end of corporal punishment, how a teacher maintains order in a modern classroom must be a difficult task. The problem must not be overstated.

The Minister has explained clearly that the task force on student behaviour was not set up because student disruption is at crisis level but rather to reinforce the fact that the majority of our second level schools are orderly and harmonious. The interim report of the task force confirms this. While problems exist in some schools, the majority of students in the school system are engaged and behaved and are thriving in our excellent education system. This is due in no small part to the determination of the Minister and the Government to increase resources.

During the next two years there will be 500 extra teachers in primary schools to reduce class sizes and tackle disadvantage, and capitation rates for primary and second level schools will be increased. The Progressive Democrats, along with our colleagues in Government, have urged that such increases be well ahead of inflation to ensure that new funding not only maintains standards but delivers real improvements. Teachers need support in their work. They are to be commended on the often unrecognised work they do in classrooms day in, day out. The Progressive Democrats Party, along with its Fianna Fáil partner in Government, seeks to provide for the continuous professional development of teachers.

Reference was made to the budget allocation for in-service provision for 2006 of €27 million, an increase of 15% on the amount for 2005. I welcome this development.

Students must feel they have the support needed to succeed in their studies. Today's students must deal with tremendous pressure, especially as they approach junior and leaving certificate examinations. A range of support services are provided in schools. These are intended to help schools develop and implement school plans and policies. The support in schools is to deliver civic, social and political education. In addition, secondary schools receive an extra quota of hours to provide guidance and counselling to students. I understand the National Educational Psychological Service is available to schools to help individual students who encounter difficulties. My only concern is that students may not be fully aware of the help available to them if they experience difficulties. I encourage schools to ensure awareness of such services is raised in an appropriate way, sensitive to the concerns of students who are at difficult stages in their studies.

The motion calls on the Minister to publish the final report of the task force under the chairmanship of Maeve Martin. I am satisfied not only that the Minister intends to publish the report and set out the intended approach to its implementation in March 2006, but that €2 million has been allocated for 2006 to enable the implementation of the report. That scheme will commence this year.

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