Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she proposes to address the administrative burdens that arise in very large primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32885/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The role of schools within communities is crucial and I wish to acknowledge the huge contribution being made daily by all school leaders in the operation of our schools.

International evidence is clear on the vital impact that school leaders have on student outcomes, and on leading teaching and learning in our schools. To ensure that our school leaders are supported in an increasingly complex environment now and into the future my officials are examining how best to support school leaders.

A review of leadership supports, as committed to in the Programme for Government, is currently in development. This will examine current resourcing, distributed leadership, administrative and advisory supports, and professional learning supports for school leaders. Extensive consultation with stakeholders will inform this work.

The school leadership framework introduced in 2017 allows for flexibility in identifying and prioritising the evolving leadership and management needs of schools. This shared leadership model supports school leaders in the overall management and operation of schools. It provides for the assignment and re-assignment of post holders to specific roles and responsibilities to meet a school’s evolving needs. Today, 1 in 3 primary school teachers hold management positions. Budget 2024 provided for an additional 500 posts of responsibility (POR's) at Assistant Principal II level for the current school year while Budget 2025 provided for the equivalent of 500 AP II posts, being distributed as 110 AP I and 251 AP II for the purposes of fully restoring all POR's in primary schools. A revised Post of Responsibility Schedule issued to schools in April to reflect this increase in posts of responsibility available to schools for the coming school year.

In examining leadership, my Department is acutely aware that we need to protect what works well in our school system and serves so many young people so well. We want to build on the strengths of the system and address challenges that will support our school communities and be responsive to the needs of students in an increasingly complex world.

The Programme for Government also commits to a trial of new administrative support for principals and boards of management to assist with the demands faced and support school leaders in rebalancing some of their time to leading teaching and learning. Planning for this trial is now at an advanced stage.