Primary school principals are at “breaking point” due to inadequate resources, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has claimed.
She told the Dáil that seven out of ten schools are running a deficit, with electricity costs after increasing by 35% and insurance by 19%,.
The Cork South West deputy said the financial situation was negatively affecting students as, due to a shortage of teachers, they were being taught by trainees who are filling gaps.
She said funding for Special Needs Assistants had been frozen or reduced and additional supports are nearly impossible to access, even though the demand has increased.
In reply, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the narrative of “unrelenting misery” outlined by Ms Cairns did not reflect the fact that Ireland’s education system is “one of the best in Europe”.
He said there were challenges, and they would be dealt with, but it had to be recognised that Ireland is “very high up there” when comparing literacy and numeracy skills with other EU member states.
The Tánaiste said the number of teachers has grown enormously over the past four years; the teacher-pupil ratio had been reduced; the hot meals programme had been expanded; the DEIS programme had been increased; the number of Special Needs Assistants had risen dramatically; and the free book school was a significant development.
He said that huge resources – both capital and current – had been invested in the education system, but added the government would respond to the concerns of the primary school principals.
