Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his response. This is my first public opportunity to wish the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, every success with the important work of the Department of Education and Skills.

The programme for Government clearly states that the Government will endeavour to protect front line services. In light of the fact that no reference is made to increasing the numbers working in education to meet demographic demands, namely, the pressure on the pupil-teacher ratio that will result from the requisite creation of new school places, will the Minister commit to supporting the proposal in the national recovery plan to increase the numbers working in education by 2,500?

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