Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Hislop. There is one more issue that I just want to look at. At the outset, the Minister talked about achievements in reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools from 28:26. Earlier today the ASTI were in here and its representatives said that 80% of secondary schools in Ireland have poor ventilation and 25% have no hot water, and that Ireland is at the bottom of OECD league in terms of investment in second level schools per capita. She also said that she would look at reducing the pupil-teacher ratio further but I want to ask her if, as an experienced politician, she has ever seen large-scale reductions in pupil-teacher ratios and investment in school programmes at a time when tax take is plummeting, namely, in this time of lockdown and restrictions etc. There is no point debating what is necessary and proportionate, and what is not necessary and not proportionate. My simple question is: does she think the Department can improve pupil-teacher ratios and the standards of secondary schools with less money than was heretofore available to the Department?