Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

In the case of teaching principals it is reasonable to request that there would be a secretary to take calls and communicate with parents for at least three hours a day while the principal is teaching. Continuous interruption on the teaching principals' time is cutting down on pupil contact time and this is more chronic than we realise. It is unfair to pupils, as this is their learning time.

Another matter that has come to my attention in the past few days in my research for this debate is that security is a growing issue in schools and it is costing schools a great deal. There is fear for the children's safety. The secretary was a watchful eye for schools.

I ask the Minister to address five points. I ask him to look at our suggestions to see if they are helpful. I do not mind how he addresses them. First, come up with a way to help schools afford to run as places of education. Second, make schools safe places of learning.