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

I ask the Minister to reconsider and meet the members of the National Principals Forum and examine the up-to-date research they have on the workload, especially that of teaching principals, who comprise 75% of principals. The Minister mentioned in the circular that there can be a cluster of ten schools in order to share a teacher to allow more administrative release. That is welcome. The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Bruton, talked a lot about restoring the supply panels but he did not take action. That, again, is a major issue for both teaching principals and administrative principals. The number of retired teachers covering substitute needs last year was noticeable. The number is growing year by year. Was this not an important aspect before the crash era? Could the Minister not just go ahead and restore the supply panels? I would like the Minister to meet the principals.

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