Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

My intention, when dealing with the numbers of additional language support teachers that could be put in place, was to be open and transparent. I did not want to be accused of operating on the basis of nods and winks, or political interference. I was keen to put in place a clear benchmark for the appointment of additional language support teachers. That is what has been put in place. Everybody can see that. If a school wants to make an appeal under the revised system, which has been clearly set out, some 25% of its children will have to be newcomer children with English language support requirements. The basis on which appeals can be submitted has been made clearly known to schools. I will not tell the independent appeals body to be flexible — it is familiar with my position, which is that flexibility should be built into the appeals system in cases of schools which are willing to integrate and are seen to take in a high percentage of children who need language support.

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