Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is it is disappointing that the Minister cannot meet representatives of the National Principals Forum. It produced a major survey entitled This is How Bad Things Are. Approximately 1,200 principals were surveyed. Approximately 60% of them were teaching principals. The striking point is that a shocking 95% or 96% said they were stressed by the workload. Two thirds felt that work was unsustainable. Something like 96% felt there was inadequate release time and that this presented the major challenge. Two thirds had considered stepping down as principal as a result of the intense pressure from all the additional requirements. If one is in a principal's office, one will see the reports, notices and departmental fógraí coming in week after week outlining additional tasks that must be undertaken. The announcement in the Minister's recent notice is welcome but the INTO was looking for a day per week for teaching principals in order for them to address the administrative work. I am aware that the Minister attended the workload forum but some teaching principals, in particular, believe he did not take on board the severity of their workload.

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