John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As we will all be aware, we are having many meetings at the moment with different constituents and groups ahead of budget 2024. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Aoibheann Lynch, who is the principal of St. Peter's National School, Dromiskin, along with Andre O'Connell, who is a primary school teacher in St. Joseph's National School, Dundalk. Both Aoibheann and Andre outlined some of the priorities of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, INTO, and, in particular, of teachers in County Louth. I wanted to bring them to the attention of this House ahead of the budget next week.

The first main point that was raised was the pupil-teacher ratio. The pupil-teacher ratio has come down in Ireland. We are down to approximately 22.8:1 at the minute, which is good, because it has come down from 24:1 down to 22:1. However, the average European pupil-teacher ratio is approximately 20:1. We still need to get there in the next couple of years. I know it will take two or three years, if not four, by the time teachers are trained up and come through. However, that is what we have to aim for because, when there are 20 in the class, students will really flourish, as will teachers, because they will have the ability to really influence the learning of students.Interestingly, they told me that 18% of students in primary school are in classes of 30. Such classes are too big to encourage that type of learning.

The second issue is the restoration of the 2,400 posts of responsibility that were removed in 2012. I refer not to school principals or deputy principals but to assistant principals. An assistant principal is able to help with a lot of the heavy lifting in the primary school environment. The role also provides a really good career path for teachers who want to get an additional level of administrative experience to enable them to become a deputy principal or principal. That was a very clear request that was put to me by both Aoibheann and Andre yesterday.

Another request is for an increase in funding or the amount of money provided per pupil to schools. That would allow for things like electricity, heating, maintenance and pay for caretakers to increase. It would go a really long way towards improving the situation in schools.

Finally, a call was made to improve school-based mental health supports for children. This was also raised last year and is really important, particularly over the last four or five years. The INTO is asking that €20 per pupil be provided for mental health supports for children in primary school. I am sure that is something that everyone in this House will agree is really important.

It is good to be able to put these concerns on the record of the House today. I know the Department of Education, the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, are taking these concerns very seriously. I hope to see some positive action in the budget next week.