Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The delivery of the Creative Youth plan is dependent on creative principals, deputy principals and teachers in our schools. Our schools are overloaded with initiatives in the arts and physical education. While they are all very well intentioned, these initiatives are very much dependent on an enthusiastic teacher or deputy principal within a school to take it on board. They have to apply for funding in the first place and then have to deliver on it.

As the Minister said, it is important any schemes and initiatives delivered are also monitored and reviewed and that there is a measurable outcome from them. Are we measuring the enthusiasm of teachers in schools? Could the Minister comment on the link between the Creative Youth plan with the Arts in Education charter in terms of the relationship with the higher implementation group? Is there a connection or relationship between them?

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