Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann:

notes that over the last number of years there has been a significant increase in resources allocated to education and training, including:

- the increase in primary teacher numbers from 21,000 to over 37,000, with a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio from 22:1 to 16:1;

- the introduction of a wide range of new special education schemes underpinned by the expansion of the number of special needs assistants from 250 to over 10,000;

- the expansion in third level participation from 100,000 students to almost 160,000; and

- the creation of research programmes which have brought Ireland to a world leading position in key areas and are currently underpinning the majority of job creating investments in Ireland;

further acknowledges that in spite of these and other improvements there remain significant issues within the education and training system which require to be addressed;

believes that education and training will be a central part in economic recovery and job creation in the months and years ahead; and

therefore states its belief that education and training should be protected as a priority area for funding in future budgets.

With the permission of the House, I will share time with Deputy Dara Calleary.

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