Vol. 473 No. 5
72 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education if she will give an undertaking that her Department will expedite the consultation process with the INTO on behalf of the country's 3,000 primary school principals to resolve the issue of their duties and functions in order to ensure that no disruption of the primary school education service will occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23052/96]
The issue of duties and functions of primary school principals was discussed with the INTO as part of the PCW negotiations on the claim for increased allowances for principals. My Department made proposals for settlement of this and other PCW claims in February 1996. Although it was not possible to address all the concerns of the INTO in relation to the duties and functions of school principals, particularly those relating to measures designed to release teaching principals from class duties to attend to administrative matters, the proposals were accepted by the INTO.
I am committed to implementing all the proposals accepted by the INTO as soon as possible. In the meanwhile, my Department is in consultation with the INTO and every effort will be made to ensure that no disruption of the primary school education service will occur.
