Paul Murphy challenges school culture after pride flag removal
Paul Murphy raised concerns about bullying and school culture, citing an alleged non-inclusive environment at Temple Oak College after the removal of a rainbow pride flag and urging action to protect LGBTQ+ students and staff. He also pressed for more ASD class provision, more school psychologists, and swift follow-up on the CAMHS interim report.
Rainbow flag dispute at Temple Oak College
The deputy quoted a collective grievance from a majority of staff at Temple Oak College, run by the Spiritans, which said the unilateral removal of a rainbow pride flag from the school canteen had become an emotional issue for students and staff. The grievance alleges the principal justified the action by citing the school’s spirit and ethos and that this incident represented one instance contributing to a non-inclusive culture regarding LGBTQ+ issues.
Bullying action plan and school inclusion
Murphy referenced the action plan on bullying and asked the Taoiseach what the department will do where safe and supportive environments are not being provided. He stressed there should not be any place for discrimination against LGBT students and staff in any school, "full stop regardless of patronage or regardless of whether it is a fee-charging school or not," and said he was not inclined to answer questions about a specific school in the Chamber, suggesting the minister respond to particular queries.
ASD classes and school psychologists
The deputy agreed with a colleague’s point on the need for more ASD classes and said more space and capital investment will be required for September. He supported the view that there should be a psychologist in every school of scale, while noting skills shortages and the need to consider how limited psychological resources can be best deployed.
CAMHS review and children’s mental health
Murphy described the findings of the independent CAMHS review as very concerning and thanked young people and families who gave evidence. He said the minister asked the Mental Health Commission to expand its remit following the Maskey report, and that there has been ongoing engagement between the Department of Health, the HSC and the Mental Health Commission. He reported the HSC is reviewing open cases, arranging further clinical follow-up where required, and will contact parents and guardians as necessary, while encouraging anyone concerned to contact their key worker.
Next steps and accountability
The deputy said it is incumbent on officials to listen and ensure action is taken, and that relevant ministers and agencies are engaging to secure capital funding, clinical follow-up, and the review of service provision. He emphasised the need for clear departmental responses when school environments are described as oppressive, unsafe or fear-inducing by staff and students.
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The action plan on bullying refers to progress in providing safe and supportive school environments for LGBTQ plus students, the question to the Taoiseach is what will the department do in circumstances where that is not the case, where there is in the words of the staff in Temple Oak College run by the Spiritans a toxic culture and toxic atmosphere, I want to quote from a collective grievance submitted by a majority of staff members writing to the principal they wrote regrettably matters came to a head recently when you unilaterally decided to remove a rainbow pride flag from the school canteen area which has become a rather emotional issue for many of the students and staff within the school the removal of the pride flag from the school canteen was not an isolated incident following this incident you cited the spirit and ethos for a justification for this action we are upset and disturbed by the statement unfortunately this episode merely represented one instance contributing to a non inclusive culture and environment regarding LGBTQ plus issues that have been led by you in your capacity as principal teacher we are also deeply uneasy about your belief that any LGBTQI plus individual is living a lifestyle as described by you in meetings on the 21st and 22nd of November 2022 the facilitation process says that for many the style of management especially from the principal feels oppressive unsafe and fear-inducing in many aspects I want to thank the deputies for raising these various matters I know Deputy Murakou mentioned the issue of ASD classes in County Loud and I would agree that we have a need for more investment across the country so that we have more space for more ASD classes come September when they are particularly going to be needed they are needed now but there is going to be more needed in September and I know that is going to require additional capital investment and Minister Foley and Minister Madigan are engaging Minister Donahue who is precisely on that at the moment on that at the moment and in affairs to the Department of Education once they get capital funding they tend to be able to spend it and it is not always the case with every department for various different reasons and I know they are engaging on that as we speak. just in relation to any particular school I am just not inclined to answer questions about a specific school because what I might see what I read in media reports I do not necessarily know if they are accurate or if that is the full story but what I can say is that there should not be any place for discrimination against LGBT students and staff in any school full stop regardless of patronage or regardless of whether it is a fee-charging school or not. I might ask Minister Foley perhaps to respond to any specific questions in relation to any specific school. I agree with the view that there should be a psychologist in every school certainly any school of scale and a service available perhaps to smaller schools achieving that of course is a different thing. we suffer skills shortages across the board in Ireland and indeed across the Western world and the world and there are only so many psychologists to go around and we always have to consider how they can best be deployed. just in relation to the CAMHS report which was raised the findings of the independent review are very concerning and raise very significant risks and deficits. similar to the mental health commission I want to thank the young people and their families who spoke to them and shared their experiences. I know that was not easy and it is incumbent on all of us to listen and to ensure that action is taken. Minister Butler has been very clear on this and I will be meeting with her and the HSC on the CAMHS report tomorrow. It should be said that it was Minister Butler who asked the Mental Health Commission to expand the remit of their report following the Maskey report. I am advised that there has been an ongoing and extensive engagement between the Department of Health, the HSC and the Mental Health Commission concerning the findings. Following receipt of the draft of the interim report in late 2022, the HSC acted in relation to individual service users. It is essential that a full review of open cases by the HSC takes place to ensure that all children and young people are receiving the appropriate care they need. I am told that this is now underway. The HSC will arrange further clinical follow-up for any child where it is required and will make direct contact with parents and guardians as necessary. We are encouraging anyone who is concerned about their child to contact their key worker. Thank you.
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