John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis seo píosa a rá faoi chúpla rud áirithe atá sa chlár Rialtais. Tosóimid ar an bpointe ar chríochnaigh mo chomhghleacaí air maidir leis na Gaelcholáistí agus an gá atá orainn níos mó Gaelcholáistí a chur ar fáil do chuile cheantar, go mór mór in aon cheantar a bhfuil Gaelscoil ar fáil ann. Ba chóir go mbeidh rogha Gaelcholáiste a bheith ann sa cheantar céanna. Is mór an trua é nach bhfuil sé sin ar fáil gach áit, ach ba chóir. Glacaim go bhfuil an sprioc sa chlár Rialtais go mbeidh muid ag tabhairt deis do dhaoine dul go bunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus meánscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge chomh maith.

I welcome many of the measures included in the programme for Government pertaining to primary education. In particular, I welcome the objective to increase capitation for schools to help to meet the elevated day-to-day running costs within schools and to reduce the financial burden on families. In recent years, we have seen several initiatives introduced to schools to reduce the costs associated with education. These include the introduction of the free books scheme and the hot school meals programme. This programme for Government also includes a proposal to extend the free hot school meals programme and it is a great measure to reduce inequality among children. With the programme, all children are ensured a nutritious hot meal while at school. Expanding the programme will be very welcome. I note and recognise that, in recent weeks and months, there has been some concern about the nutritional value of the meals being provided to children under the scheme. From my own professional experience working with the companies providing the meals, they are acutely aware of their responsibilities. I found them to be very approachable and engaging in terms of ensuring they are providing nutritious and good quality meals to children in schools.

I especially welcome the aim to reduce the general pupil-teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of the Government and to introduce targeted measures in schools with very large classes. I believe this measure can have a significant impact on classroom activities and pupil learning outcomes. As we move towards the introduction of a new primary school curriculum, which infers a broadened curriculum and a greater curriculum load on teachers, smaller class sizes will be important to ensure its successful implementation. One significant challenge I see in the proposal to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio is to ensure a sufficient supply of teachers. The INTO estimates that nearly 1,000 advertised teaching positions in schools failed to be filled over the course of the past year. I see a continued and, indeed, increasing demand for the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary school settings, thus creating a further demand for additional teachers within the system. We need to start looking at creating additional teacher training spaces. The University of Galway has expressed an interest in commencing a postgraduate qualification in primary school teaching. This should be examined carefully.

I very much welcome the proposal to introduce therapists to the school setting by creating a dedicated national therapy service in education. This will be complemented by a proposal and objective to double the number of college places for those who want to be speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists. We are all aware of the challenges encountered by CAMHS services throughout the country. I welcome that the programme for Government has many commitments in this area, including one to regulate CAMHS and to simplify the referrals process. Between 30% and 50% of CAMHS referrals are referred over concerns regarding ADHD. While CAMHS currently categorises these concerns as routine, I know in some CAMHS centres there are specific ADHD referral pathways, from which children are not included in the same referral process as other children who would be referred to the CAMHS services. This is something we should look at rolling out throughout the country. As I said, 30% to 50% of children referred to CAMHS services are referred over concerns over ADHD. If we had a specific, targeted referral process and interventions for those children, it would reduce the burden on CAMHS and assist the children and their families.

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