Principals call for supports to address poverty and trauma

PRINCIPALS from a number of local primary schools recently held a crisis meeting and are calling for enhanced supports in disadvantaged schools to address childhood poverty and trauma.

Local principals who attended the meeting included Orla Hanahoe from Cnoc Mhuire SNS in Killinarden, Conor McCarthy from Tallaght CNS in Jobstown and Ray Lynn from St Anne’s in Fettercairn.

Also in attendance were Suzanne O’Reilly from St Thomas’ JNS, and John Rennick from St Thomas’ SNS, both in Jobstown, and Orla McLoughlin from Sacred Heart JNS in Killinarden.

The group of school principals have called for enhanced support under a DEIS+ classification.

This support includes counsellors, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists to work on the ground in schools with children.

They’re also calling for support for teaching posts, funding, and classroom space dedicated to implementing trauma informed practices and interventions.

Orla Hanahoe, principal of Cnoc Mhuire SNS in Killinarden, said: “Our schools are the centre of the community, providing a safe and welcoming environment for our children, meeting as many of their needs as possible.

“We have been providing counselling for our children for over 20 years. This has been needs driven as we respond to the trauma many children live with.

“The relationships between staff, children and parents are vital, a lower pupil/teacher [ratio] is essential in giving our children the best possible start.”

Conor McCarthy, principal of Tallaght CNS, said: “It is infuriating that the need for these supports have been recognised within the Department of Education and the Government but the decision to create an enhanced DEIS+ band has not been taken yet.

“Having to wait until the OECD report is released to tell us what we already know is having a damaging impact on children and their education.

“We need Norma Foley to have the vision to make this decision now. “The current supports that the Department will tell you they are providing like NEPS and the NCSE SIM Model are completely inadequate.”

The group of principals said the supports provided by the Department of Education to DEIS primary schools are not allowing all DEIS1 schools to meet the particular needs of the children from their communities.

According to the group, in meetings between them and the Department of Education and the Child Poverty Unit the needs of children from their communities have been recognised.

“They have acknowledged that more supports for our schools are needed,” stated the group in a press release.

“In Budget 2023, our schools were ignored.

“The Department has used the excuse of the pending OECD report as a means of kicking this decision down the road.

“If the Government is serious about tackling childhood poverty these enhanced supports in schools will have the biggest impact.”

The Echo contacted the Department of Education for comment, but a response wasn’t received at the time of print.