Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's point is well made, in that not every school is equally good at implementing these programmes. However, the junior certificate well-being programme, which we are rolling out from September, gives an opportunity for schools to have a hard look at themselves, a self-evaluation. We are encouraging schools to do that and there is a seven-step process to look at their programmes, examining such things as whether they have done the continuous professional development for the teachers who will front up these programmes. They will need to consider whether they have good links with others who can support them.

I recognise that there is a range of expertise outside the school that should be drawn upon. Clearly, however, such expertise must be of sufficient quality. Teachers must have confidence that whoever they are taking on will deliver a quality programme. It is an issue for schools to ensure that any assistance they take in from the outside is of a high standard. We hope we will be able to give them guidelines to help them make those choices, but they are ultimately choices for the school to make. We must also be conscious that teacher-led is the model we are told is best. It is not a substitute for the teacher, but the teacher ought to be at the heart of the programme. That model is based on experience and we should seek to upskill the teacher and the school to lead this programme effectively.

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