Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

We should examine what the Government is doing and what the Opposition would do with the same resources because this debate concerns the prioritisation of the considerable resources currently available. We should not conclude this debate unless the Opposition clearly states what it would do within the context of the available resources. Where would the Opposition shift its priorities and from which areas would it take money? It behoves anyone putting forward a motion such as this to set out clearly where the shifting of priorities would take place. We should be very direct about this because the motion clearly calls for certain pupil-teacher ratios and class sizes to be brought into play. If the Opposition was to carry out the objectives set out in the motion tomorrow morning, from where would it draw the resources? Would it draw them from special needs education, education for disadvantaged children, training or pay?

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