Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately I do not think the Taoiseach gets it. We can quote all these numbers and statistics but right in front of his face is the pressure that is on principals and the mental health problems that are there at such a young age are frightening all of us or at least anyone that wants to listen and acknowledge it. I feel the Taoiseach does not appreciate the scale of the crisis facing teaching principals. Some 80% of teaching principals have had their health compromised by their positions and 84% have considered stepping down. The Taoiseach can talk about all the new posts but we cannot keep the trained, excellent leaders that we have: we are losing them. Teaching principals are also paid less than their administrative principal counterparts who are also extremely overworked but who do have 900 hours release time a year on average more than the others. Teaching principals work without the added responsibility, so that 900 hours is very badly needed. The teaching principals forum has stated that the primary education system currently is like a house of cards, something like the Taoiseach's Government, and he is going to stand by while it collapses around us.

With regard to mental health, three nurses resigned from mental health posts in Waterford Regional Hospital only this week. There is nobody there at the moment. The Taoiseach can close his eyes to this, deny it and say he does not know what I am talking about but he should know and it is his duty to know. He is not living on Mars: he is living in Dublin.

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