Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of commitments in the programme for Government in regard to education. I wish to address the commitment on capitation. The commitment is that capitation rates for schools will be set on a three-year rolling basis. This has not happened. We know that capitation rates are far too low for many schools and that they need to be increased. There is also a commitment to examine measures to assist teaching principals. Anybody who has met teaching principals recently will know that they are at the pin of their collar and they are finding it extremely difficult to operate within schools given the increased responsibilities attached to schools in terms of special needs, additional staff and so on, so much so that many are leaving their posts and there is great difficulty in recruiting teaching principals, namely, those who can teach classes as well as operate as principals. Will the Taoiseach outline the Government's plans to fulfil these commitments?

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