Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Let us be under no illusion. There will be continued and serious investment in education. However, we face budgetary parameters. Were the Opposition parties in Government, they would have to contend with this issue also. I say to the people simply that we will continue our investment in education next year and in the years ahead and in better times we will accelerate that investment. However, we face a situation which any responsible Government would face. The budgetary reality is not unique to this country, it is a position faced by every other developed economy. Decisions must be taken, not motivated by penalising people——

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