Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

He also claims he hopes to have the figures published in the summer. The Minister has known this since 30 September 2007. What kind of outfit is he leading?

If this is the way he treats this House and his predecessor, how does he treat schools around the country? We speak about planning for education and giving schools autonomy but we have a dysfunctional Department with the Minister at its head. His Department does not know what it is talking about when it gives misinformation to the House. That is the problem at the heart of this debate.

I recognise the Minister is an honest man and new to the brief and these complex issues. Will the Minister tell the House whether the commitment given to the people in 2002 about class sizes for children up to nine years still stands? The silence on the other side of the House speaks volumes.

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