Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I am delighted to be here to support the motion moved by Deputy Brian Hayes, our spokesman on education. Listening to the Government speakers tonight, one would swear there was no problem. A common theme emerging is that the Government cannot deliver in a year. It gave a commitment in the programme for Government that it would reduce the pupil-teacher ratio from 27 to 26 by 30 September. Once again, it has reneged on that promise.

In the 2002 programme for Government, the Government gave a commitment that children under the age of nine would be taught in classes with fewer than 20 students. In my constituency in Limerick, 85% of schools have children in classes with more than 20 students. Once again, the Government has totally reneged on a commitment.

I welcome Bill Reidy, the principal of JFK Memorial School in Limerick, as well as parents and pupils who travelled up here tonight to show how important it is to the principal, teaching staff and students in this school. I have four children in national school. Two of them are in classes of more than 35 children, while the other two are in classes with fewer than 30 children. I asked them what difference being in a class of 35 made because I believe that children will best represent it. They said that the teachers have to spend most of their time controlling the class, the weaker students are not looked after and the average student can fall through the cracks. Education is the gateway for people to get on in life. Shame on Fianna Fáil and this Government for not dealing with something so fundamental.

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