Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the crippling workload imposed on school principals. With the increased workload relating to administration and compliance, school principals are finding it very difficult to do what they are good at and what there are paid for, namely, teaching. When one considers that 50% of school principals teach a class full time it is very difficult for them to take on extra duties. It is very unfair on them. School principals should be spending their time teaching and learning as that is what they are trained to do. The ever-increasing workload and responsibility that comes with being a school principal is becoming impossible to manage.

Not alone are school principals responsible for teaching but they also have the responsibility for administration and implementing aspects of new legislation that affect their schools. They are also responsible for staff, pupils, the maintenance of the school building and fundraising. It has reached the point that they need more time to perform their role properly. The current position is unfair on principals, teachers and pupils as well. I understand principals have been in contact with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, on the issue. I urge the Leader, who has some experience in this regard, to bring our concerns on the plight of school principals to the Minister so that mechanisms and procedures can be put in place to rectify the problem. The workload has expanded to such an extent that it is impossible for principals to carry on and it is unfair to ask them to do so.