Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

The Minister said the Department was taking additional measures to cope with developing areas. There are schools in developing areas that cannot be told now where they are going in September. Is this an example of additional measures?

When Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats sat down to hammer out a programme for Government after the general election, they made many specific promises and commitments in a large number of important areas. As we have seen all too often in recent years, these promises and commitments were built on sand. We all know the status of promises made regarding overseas development aid, the Garda and the allocation of medical cards. This evening, we are examining the promises made to reduce average class sizes. The Government is guilty of an appalling lack of action in this regard. The programme for Government was clear on what it set out and the Government has failed on that despite all the figures quoted by the Minister.

Since these promises were made, the Government took no action to realise its commitment. Class sizes in schools throughout the country have remained excessively high and have increased in areas like Meath. Carnaross national school in Meath has an average of 27.5 children in a class and has a mixed class of 33 pupils. St. Oliver Plunkett national school in Navan is four teachers short and has an average of 29.5 pupils per class. Dunboyne senior national school is waiting for teachers. Another national school in Meath has an average class size of 29.25 and has five or six prefab blocks.

The Labour Party has outlined the benefits of reduced class sizes. We all know these benefits. I was in classes of between 40 and 46 pupils in prefabs, which is not good enough. Many of my classmates did not get the education they were entitled to. Children need to get the education they are entitled to now more than ever with a competitive European market. In November 2004, the Taoiseach said it was true that the Government had not done what it set out to do but that it was committed to reaching its target. Can I ask the Minister if the Taoiseach was misleading the Dáil again? This was after the Minister's comment that it would only be a noble aspiration. If there is no chance of a promise being delivered, what hope is there that a noble aspiration will be delivered?

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