Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 108: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to results of a survey of 250 joint managerial body members which showed that some principals were working up to 70 hours per week and that many are also forced to work during holiday periods; her plans to ease the workload on principals through the provision of administrative support or other measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19658/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am very aware of the administrative burden currently placed on schools and the effect this has on the workload of principals. I have started a process of review of the administrative burden imposed on schools arising from departmental and legislative requirements. I believe we can collectively seek opportunities to ensure that this burden is kept to the minimum, consistent with achieving the worthwhile and indeed essential objectives of legislation in recent years.

The core purpose of the review I have set in motion is to focus sharply upon administrative processes and consequent administrative burdens which arise within the school as a result of regulations and-or departmental requirements and to consider what scope exists for alleviating these or having them performed in a more efficient and less demanding manner from the perspectives of the school.

My Department wrote to the various representative bodies last March inviting them to consider where and in what way present processes can be improved upon. A number of submissions have been received to date, including one from the joint managerial body, JMB, incorporating the key findings of the JMB survey of its members to which the Deputy refers. My Department is currently in communication with the JMB with a view to arranging a follow up meeting to discuss their submission.