Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I do not have that information today, but I can obtain it for the Deputy. It was proposed to recruit 4,000 extra teachers over the period of the plan. Two years into that five-year plan we now have in excess of 2,000 additional teachers. Any fair-minded observer can see that the commitment to appoint additional teachers is being honoured. The Deputy is aware of the pressures on the Exchequer. However, after two years the Government has delivered additional teachers beyond what it was required to do.

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