Exhausted principals cannot step down as they risk being moved

Exhausted principals are being prevented from stepping back from school leadership because they risk having to move schools as a result, TDs and senators have been told.

The concern was raised by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) at an Oireachtas education committee hearing into increasing challenges in the running of schools.

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) told the same committee that a crisis in school leadership requires urgent redress. Its proposals include a reformed middle-management structure to make up for the loss of posts in most second-level schools due to recent cutbacks.