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

I beg Members' indulgence in this regard. I have been in this position for two weeks and have indicated clearly that I have entered discussions with my officials regarding funding and demands on funding within the Department. I am not in a position at present to indicate clearly the destination of capital funding or what is the current funding side. I certainly am not in a position to indicate what will be available to me as part of the 2009 allocation. The commitment I will make is that the programme for Government provides for 4,000 additional teachers.

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