P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, on tabling this motion. I also congratulate my county colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, on his elevation to the position of Minister for Education and Science. I hope he will bring some good news in respect of this Ministry before the year is out.

We are here tonight a year after the general election that saw Fianna Fáil Deputies opposite elected on a promise to reduce class sizes by one pupil every year for four years. However, Fianna Fáil Members and their groupies, including the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and associated Independents, will vote en masse tomorrow night to break that promise to the schoolchildren of Ireland. Another broken Fianna Fáil election promise. Has the Minister no shame? He is not robbing children of their lollipops but of much more, including his respect and that of his party. He is not only breaking the promise for this year but will continue to break that promise every year for the next four years.

I speak tonight on behalf of the pupils, parents and staff of Our Lady of Mercy School, Bantry, and Scoil Mhuire national school, Schull, both of which are located in the heart of my constituency of Cork South-West. I hope the Fianna Fáil public representatives for Cork county, including my constituency colleague, Deputy Christy O'Sullivan, will stand behind me and vote to retain the teachers at Our Lady of Mercy School, Bantry, and Scoil Mhuire national school, Schull.

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