Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

This is an important motion. I declare a special interest in that I have been a teacher for more than 20 years and am still a member of the INTO. I am always honoured and privileged to represent the INTO view in the Dáil and will continue to push the case for education, the importance of teachers in society and their valuable role in the community. It is essential that this House notes that Irish primary schools have the second highest class size in the EU, that no improvements in mainstream class size have been made in the past three years and that additional teachers are urgently required to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and from disadvantaged communities. I call on all Deputies to support the campaign led by the INTO and to support local communities in securing improved staffing levels in primary schools so that primary classes are reduced to European norms in accordance with best practice as promised in An Agreed Programme for Government from 2002 to 2007.

I also demand increased resources for primary education, specifically including a reduction in primary class size as a matter of national importance that warrants immediate action. I am sick to the teeth with the teacher-bashing that goes on in wider Irish society. My experience of teachers, as a teacher for 20 years is as follows: teachers assisting pupils outside of school hours; teachers training and bringing pupils to matches after hours; teachers putting their lives at risk in child abuse cases; teachers bringing children abroad and around the country at weekends; teachers assisting children with disabilities, far above the call of duty.

I know many teachers who have done this on numerous occasions. I commend them in this debate tonight and I welcome my colleagues from the INTO to the Visitors Gallery. We have also seen teachers taking on racism head on while some politicians in this House have stoked the fires of fear. Teachers who do extra work in their local communities are not looking for gold medals for their work. They enjoy their job and derive great satisfaction from it. However, they deserve balanced reporting and fair play. I urge all Deputies in this House to defend teachers.

I mention schools in my own constituency such as Gaelscoil CholmCille, which is still located in the facilities of a football ground. We also have large class sizes in schools in Marino, Clontarf, Killester, Artane and Beaumont. On the issue of staffing in schools, it is essential that we understand that class size is a major issue for teachers throughout the State. Parents are concerned that teachers are operating in large classes. We want action from the Government and I call on all Deputies in this House, across all parties, to support education, teachers and our pupils.

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