The Education Act, 1998, requires Boards of Management, to promote equality of opportunity for all staff in the school and to “ensure that the needs of personnel involved in management functions and staff development needs generally in the school are identified and provided for” (Section 9). The Act also requires the Principal, inter alia, to give “guidance and direction to the teachers and other staff of the school”, to “provide leadership to the teachers and other staff …” and to create “…a school environment which promotes the professional development of the teachers” (Section 23)
The issue of the welfare of teachers should be addressed by the Board of Management in consultation with the teachers, and a clear policy on staff welfare and development should be drawn up.