Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

This community remains vulnerable, but I have given time and effort to engaging with representative groups and individuals throughout the year, and I am pleased that the equality monitoring allocation for 2011 will ensure current initiatives continue.

The funding of Traveller Focus Week and a very positive conflict mediation pilot project in the midlands will, I hope, also continue next year. The project has been successful in reducing conflict, which is beneficial to both the Traveller and the settled communities.

I want to make a few brief comments on the Green Party's input into the budget protecting the economy and the environment. We have fought hard to ensure that we protect education. Education is a vital investment in our children and the country's future. Talking to teachers right across the country, and, indeed, in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, the one message I was hearing was, "Please do not increase the pupil-teacher ratio". I myself am a former teacher, and, indeed, the Minister, Deputy Pat Carey, is as well, and I am delighted to say that the pupil-teacher ratio has been maintained. It will give our children a great headstart in the years to come. When our economy comes out of this slough of despond the jobs will be there and we will have provided good education.

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