Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Independent Group for bringing this Private Members' business before us.

A clear message was sent to us in the audiovisual room last week by primary school principals from across the country, including Tipperary: urgent action is needed immediately. A lack of support staff to give teaching principals the time they need, the lack of consistent funding schedules to aid school budget planning, the inadequate resource allocation for SNAs and SETs - the list goes on, and the Minister is well aware of this. The principals made it clear that they need assurances now and cannot wait until the budget. The INTO recently outlined how this has affected the ability to recruit and retain staff, while the principals we listened to outlined how the dire conditions teaching principals work under highlight the current landscape of primary and special education. How are we in a situation in which the CPSMA survey carried out in April found that nearly three quarters of schools will not have enough money to pay their ancillary staff this year, with the average deficit between the grant and the moneys required being €7,100?

First, let us look at how the OECD figures show that Ireland spends on average 12.5% less per student at primary level than other developed countries. As regards special education, we were told that while the number of children with special needs increased by 56% between 2017 and 2021, the 2011 austerity measures, which reduced SEN resources by 15%, have not been fully reversed. The National Educational Psychological Service is under-resourced, while schools struggle to get additional SET or SNA support because of the nature of the appeals process.

Teachers and principals have been screaming all this and more, and the Minister needs to listen. The capitation grant needs to be aligned with current costs of living and in parity with other educational sectors. In addition, we need an independent analysis of school funding and a permanent increase in capitation that reflects the true cost of running schools. As I have said repeatedly, we need to accurately collect data to ascertain future need for special education, gather SEN data from schools through the primary online database, adjust it where needed and develop a roadmap in order that the SEN school profiles are met with the appropriate SEN allocations. Principals have spoken, and the Minister needs to pay heed now.

See this speech in context