Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The focus of my question is the pressures and stresses on teachers in the course of carrying out their work and the impact that is having on the mental health of teachers. I accept that mental health is also a serious issue among the student population.

The recent Irish Primary Principals Network conference in Citywest highlighted how stress and mental health difficulties are affecting many primary school teachers at present because of the pressures they are under as a result of the increasing difficulties of running a school and the workload that falls on principals and teachers as a result. That is something that must be addressed. The Department must act in that regard to resolve the issue. Principals now have a massive workload, in particular because of the financial difficulties that exist. Capitation grants have been reduced. The minor works grant has been eradicated. Much of the responsibility falls on principals, in addition to the administration duties involved in running a school and on top of their teaching duties, as many primary principals also have teaching responsibilities.

I would welcome a comment from the Minister of State on the issue. The Department must address the matter. Everyone is finding the current climate difficult. Many principals made the point that the Croke Park II agreement would make it more difficult to get people to become principals. The stresses involved are affecting the number of teachers interested in taking on the role of principal. Increased pressure is also evident for ordinary teachers. The Department must address the issue and come up with a solution.

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