Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. There were a large number of statistics in that. In today's world, especially in primary schools, there is a great deal going on. I am aware of two schools that are undertaking building projects. Matters have become difficult. School principals are not just managing education, they are managing facilities. They are doing project management and procurement. They are responsible to anybody and everybody. It is important that we have the assistant principal role. In today's world there is so much about health and safety, all the children's safety, and all the things that go with education now. The workload and responsibility of the school principal have evolved enormously, especially over the last 20 years. Compared to my time in school, it was a simple process where education was there. There are so many different things now that are the responsibility of the principal, who reports to the board of management. I welcome the news the Minister is giving us but it is important that we restore the full extent of the assistant principal posts that were lost.

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