Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Never in the history of the State have costs to ordinary people been inflated to such an extent, starting with housing and going across the spectrum, so that, relative to their position in 1997, people are worse off now, whether the Government wants to recognise this.

I thank the Labour Party for putting down this motion and giving us an opportunity to speak on this subject, because some of us have not had an opportunity to do so in recent times. If there is one scandal that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, it is pupil-teacher ratios in the classroom. Again, parents frequently bring this to our attention. In how many schools have we seen classrooms that are incapable of holding the number of pupils in the class? How many times have we seen children with special needs within such classrooms? How many times have we seen cases in which the school is bursting at the seams and for one reason or another it has not been possible to provide adequate space and teachers. I do not care what anybody says. The initial grounding in education comes at primary level. Whatever chances the children get then will stand to them for the rest of their lives. If they are in overcrowded classrooms or prefabricated buildings — in some cases children go through primary and second level education in prefabricated buildings — it will remain with them.

It has been said in recent times that education is of fundamental importance and this is correct. It is important in terms of future employment. The lack of a proper education in a suitable environment can have a lasting impact on pupils. Notwithstanding the Government's self-praise, there has been a dearth of concentration and responsibility in the examination of this matter. All children, regardless of background, should be sure of attending a school where teachers have time to give individual attention. A child emerging from such a system of education in a rural or urban area would have a chance.

In the olden days when there were one-teacher and two-teacher schools all over the country, children received individual attention because there was no pupil-teacher ratio of 35:1 or 40:1. Things may have been archaic in many ways but there was individual attention, which gave children a great grounding.

I will not go on because my two colleagues wish to speak. I am glad to have had an opportunity to support the motion and hope my colleagues will do better than I in speaking to it.

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