Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was at the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, briefing yesterday in Buswells Hotel which was really powerful. The organisation is campaigning for a series of budgetary measures to improve the primary education system in Ireland. It has four requests or recommendations including a reduction in class sizes, the full restoration of 2,400 posts of responsibility in schools, an increase in funding for schools and investment in mental health supports. The last recommendation is the one that I want to talk about and I know it is something that also interests the Deputy Leader.

The INTO is calling for age-appropriate mental health supports to be funded for all children with mental health and emotional issues. It seems that every second child is suffering from stress or anxiety. It is almost a pandemic and the INTO actually said that yesterday. The recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, PIRLS, report found that pupil well-being, as measured by feeling hungry, tired or being bullied, had decreased since 2016. Referrals to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and other services rose by 40%. The INTO believes that the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, should be augmented, that the in-school and early years therapy support demonstration project should be reinstated and expanded and that funding for the school completion programme should be increased. That is what the INTO is looking for and the estimated cost is €3.7 million from September to December 2023 and €11 million per annum thereafter. As of 2022, there were 500,054 primary school pupils and at €20 per pupil, the proposals would cost only €11 million per annum.If one looks at that intervention piece, and the prevention piece and if one catches students at that level, it is a no-brainer really, if they are caught at that level before they grow into adulthood.

I want to send my condolences to the family of the wonderful and amazing Christy Dignam, another legend who will never be forgotten by the Irish people, and certainly by Dublin people. He was a pure, out-and-out gentleman, and a talent who we as a country should be very proud of. He was everybody's friend. Everybody loved him. I loved him, and I was very lucky to be able to meet him, hang out with him, talk to him and hear his stories. He was funny, and just a pure, out-and-out gentleman. I know he will get a good and well-deserved send-off. I want to send out my condolences on behalf of all of us here to his wonderful family, his wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera and his grandchildren. I know that the biggest thing for Christy was to have to leave his grandchildren. I want to pay huge respects to him, and tell him that we all really think he is an amazing human being.