102. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education her views on the number of schools reporting funding crises, related to increased energy, insurance and other costs, and which have not been matched with increased central funding; if she is concerned with the number of schools referred to the financial services support unit, for example; how she intends to respond to this funding crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16977/25]
Sentiment score: 0.19
I wish to ask the Minister her views on the number of schools reporting funding crises related to increased energy, insurance and other costs and that have not been matched with increased central funding; if she is concerned with the number of schools referred to the financial services support unit, for example; how she intends to respond to this funding crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Sentiment score: 0.74
It is evident that the Minister is not doing enough and her plan is to continue to not do enough. In the past month, a cursory look at the Dáil Chamber showed that at least 15 TDs from every party raised funding concerns on behalf of dozens of local schools. In every case, it was about insufficient funding and money that was intended for programme A, whether that be educational disadvantage, summer works or hot school meals, being used instead for day-to-day running costs: wages, insurance, energy, electricity and heat. School leaders have handed over their books to local TDs and shown them what is happening. For example, it is not unusual for a school’s insurance costs to be in excess of 25% of its capitation. It is very clear that the current level of funding is wholly inadequate. The Minister has indicated the projected level of funding. With respect, we have all heard her response ten times over because it is the exact same response to every Deputy who has raised this matter. There is a significant problem and it needs an urgent response.
Sentiment score: 0.08
The people who deserve a huge amount of credit here, given the financial pressure they are under, are school principals, school leaders and school communities. In many of these cases they are keeping schools operational that, without their effort, would be under the water. I recognise there have been increased levels of funding, but there has also been a far greater level of increase in demands, for example, insurance costs. I have figures that show many schools are spending at least 25% of their budget on insurance costs alone, before anything else. The world has changed. The Minister is talking about €30 million in additional funding. My party called for €150 million in additional funding and provided for that in our alternative budget. That is the scale of ambition that is required and sought, not just by Sinn Féin but also by teaching unions and school leaders.
Sentiment score: 0.17
We cannot be running from one crisis to the next.
Sentiment score: -0.62
That is exactly what is happening. You are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Sentiment score: -0.05
104. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the measures she is taking to ensure children are protected and safe in the online world while at school; if she will acknowledge that €9 million phone pouches are an expensive distraction and that a more comprehensive response is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16979/25]
Sentiment score: 0.27
What measures is the Minister taking to ensure children are protected and safe in the online world while at school, will she acknowledge that the €9 million phone pouches are an expensive distraction and that a more comprehensive response is required, and will she make a statement on the matter?
Sentiment score: 0.80
I thank the Minister. Children are being exposed to extreme violence, including sexual violence and pornography, and some social media platforms trade on hate and division. That has real implications where people are suggesting, and I do not disagree with them, that there is a very significant experiment with our children and policymakers are very often behind the curve. There is a challenge for all of us. I have quite a cynical view of voluntary codes and poorly accessed resources. I would be interested in the extent to which Webwise's resources are accessed and used because my sense is that it is not massive, and this also applies to the phone pouches. We need a comprehensive response here and we need media literacy to be embedded in our education system, from the cradle to grave. The Minister is well placed to do this. There are good international examples, such as in Finland. We should absolutely be world leaders. We have lots of tech here and we should lead in this space.
Sentiment score: 0.05
We need specific timelines and measures because we can all agree in the round here, and I do not disagree with a word that the Minister has said, but what we need from the Government is action and implementation on this. For example, while this is not the Minister's responsibility, we have light-touch regulation and it needs to be improved, with age verification and recommender settings. Children, not much older than junior to senior infants, potentially have access to pornography in their pockets. That has to be tackled. In the area of education, it is about embedding critical thinking and media literacy from the cradle to the grave. In Finland, they do it from preschool and they are at it for decades. That is something on which the Minister can personally take a lead. I would welcome working with her on that to transform this issue. Bans will go only so far, but we need to educate people as to the power of these devices.
Sentiment score: 0.07
Some of that is already outdated.
Sentiment score: 0.00