Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

For more than a decade, Fianna Fáil-led Governments have dramatically increased the number of teachers in primary schools to meet a series of objectives, including reducing class size, providing improved staffing ratios, meeting the needs of pupils from socio-economic disadvantaged areas, supporting children with special needs and supporting the language needs of new children. Since 2002, there are approximately 6,000 more teachers on the Department's pay roll. In the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years additional teachers were allocated, specifically to reduce class sizes. There can be no doubt about where the Government stands on primary education.

This debate has exposed further double speak from the Opposition benches. Fine Gael makes repeated calls for additional spending on education and other public services, but at the same time criticises the Government for its management of public expenditure.

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