Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to programme A, first, second and early years education, on the current side. I do not want to delay the meeting but I do have some questions. I acknowledge that contained within that are the commitments in the confidence and supply agreement in respect of the pupil-teacher ratio and guidance counsellors. It is welcome that the pupil-teacher ratio will drop to 26:1 at primary level next September. The commitments in respect of guidance counselling are being met under the confidence and supply agreement. I acknowledge that. That is important. They are both crucial issues on which the Government is delivering on foot of the confidence and supply agreement with Fianna Fáil.

There are many other issues in education. The first one the Minister is going to hear much about next week is the salaries of newly qualified teachers. That comes under the subhead of salaries and allowances. There may be an obvious answer to this question but I will ask it. Is there scope within the budget this year to cover any possible change to the salaries of newly qualified teachers? In that context, will the Minister comment on what the Taoiseach said yesterday in the Dáil? I think the Minister was sitting beside him. I refer to the possibility of opening up negotiations on the salaries of newly qualified teachers after the conferences. Is that something that is planned and likely to happen? Is it something that is going to be announced next week or perhaps here today?

On capitation and grants payable to schools, primary and post-primary, effectively those payments are static. There is a minuscule increase despite the number of pupils going up quite a lot. Will the Minister acknowledge that it is difficult for schools to cope at the moment because of the static nature of the overall grant? It means parents are forced to fundraise and some schools can fundraise better than others. However, all the time, schools are put to the pin of their collars, so to speak, in regard to operating with the current costs. I will not talk about capital at this point but I will later on. I refer to the current costs of insurance, extra ancillary help etc. Schools are finding it really difficult. Has the Minister any plans to increase capitation and grants?

I want to highlight another issue that is a disgraceful indictment, namely, broadband. While the Department states that 100% of post-primary schools have access to high-speed broadband, the number of primary schools with access to high-speed broadband was listed at 23% in 2016. Last year, there was a target of 33% and this year there is a target of 37% of schools. That is extraordinary. I would like the Minister to comment on that because we get this all the time as constituency Deputies. The schools are finding it increasing difficult to operate without broadband. Some programmes can be delivered online to assist teachers. Teaching methods can also involve online resources. It is also frustrating when people see broadband being put into a local village but not being extended slightly up the road to the local school. What discussions has the Minister had with his colleagues in Government, but also with Eir and other providers as well, such as SIRO, about providing that crucial resource to schools?