Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The message, which I am getting individually from members of the group the Deputy mentioned, is quite consistent in terms of initiative overload and the extra pressures. We introduced middle-management leadership at both primary and secondary levels to provide the mid-range leadership posts. The reality is that people in public leadership positions are finding it increasingly difficult. There is a feeling of being judged and of being in a constant 24-7 cycle of work. The old regimes of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the secondary school system, and of working from Monday to Friday do not exist any more. Principals are taking calls on a Sunday and in July and August. It is about trying to make it easier. Let me give an example of how. Principals have to become construction experts if they have summer works programmes. In a few weeks, I will be opening the summer works programme for summer 2020 to give the principals time, rather than having them rush under pressure in the course of a few months. I have paused the mathematics curriculum change. I have also considered introducing sequencing into the admissions to schools legislation. There are ways in which we can remove the pressure from the principals. I am in that space and hear the concerns of those individuals. I have great confidence and faith in the primary forum, however. It is a great example whereby we do the sounding, checking and testing of various initiatives or other developments coming down the track. The primary forum is excellent for this.

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