As students navigate increasingly complex issues around mental health, relationships, identity and online safety, the feedback I am getting from teachers in my own constituency of Dublin Mid-West is that they do not feel prepared or trained on how to address and deal with these complex and sensitive issues when they arise in the classroom. The foundation for how teachers can address these things can be found in their initial teacher education which, in the case of secondary school teachers, is the professional master of education degree. We know that most teacher education programmes include some training on student well-being, diversity, inclusion and child protection but this can vary across courses. There is no universal standard requiring a minimal level of training on social, personal or health education, or well-being and sensitive issue management for secondary school teachers. One way in which to do this could be to incorporate SPHE into initial teacher education for secondary teachers in order that they have that foundation to begin to feel equipped and trained to handle sensitive issues as they arise in the classrooms.

Mar sin, will the Government consider bringing forward proposals or consider the issue around how to equip our teachers in this increasingly complex world for secondary school students and incorporate training on SPHE in the professional master of education degree?

We are all reminded, either as parents or in the work we do in here, of how demanding life can now be for young students, and the critical role our schools can play in equipping them with the tools they need to deal with the issues the Deputy has described. The plans that are under way to do that at the moment refer to a post-primary well-being team that is now rolling out a two-day professional learning experience for the curriculums the Deputy referred to. I understand what the Department of Education is doing is making additional training and support available to those teachers who are delivering the curriculums the Deputy referred to, but we do need to continue to look at whether that is working and whether it is adequate. The Deputy is right. It is becoming harder and harder and more demanding for young students. They get support from their families but we know our schools can help too, and we know our teachers want to play a part in that.