Mr. John Irwin:

In regard to what Mr. Curtis and Mr. Duffy said, no schools in this country are overfunded. There are funding issues throughout the sector. There is a significantly lower per capitapayment for students in the community and comprehensive sector compared to other schools. In light of that, we had additional services. For example, our caretakers, cleaners and secretaries were Department-funded posts, but when caretaker numbers are capped at one, down from 4.6 in larger schools, and clerical officer numbers are reduced from three to one, that demonstrates no school in the State is overfunded. I very much concur with Mr. Curtis and Mr. Duffy that, if possible, education be funded at a higher level.