Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

We have classrooms bursting at the seams, chronic underfunding of schools, prefab after prefab, parents fundraising to pay for basic necessities, such as windows and doors, the discontinuation of the summer works programme, the imposition of water charges and the long, never-ending list of children awaiting assessment for the much-needed services of a special needs assistant.

Ireland's economy will suffer greatly if the Government does not have regard for primary education. At the heart of this is the need to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. Before last year's general election, Fianna Fáil promised that class size would be addressed but it has failed. It has failed the children of Ireland. The rhetoric of association with those who truly had public service at heart is all fine and well. Talk is very easy, paper does not refuse ink and microphones do not refuse soundbites. With this Government, led by the Taoiseach, we could be dealing with a busted flush. It is short-sighted of the Government to continue to ignore class size. It is also a betrayal of future generations, given that it is internationally acknowledged that higher achievements by pupils is directly related to the numbers in classes, which is of particular importance at primary level. If we cannot educate children properly at primary level with a low pupil-teacher ratio as a cornerstone, we immediately place them at a disadvantage. Then the State is faced with trying to play catch-up throughout their time in the educational system.

The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, was put to the top of the class by the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, and I congratulate him on that. I ask him to take a different stance from the one adopted by the previous Minister for Education and Science and to deal with the issue of class size. I urge him to reduce class sizes and to deliver on the commitments that he and all Fianna Fáil Deputies gave to the people of Ireland. I commend the motion to the House.

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