Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

In the course of the budget debate the Government claimed no changes had been made to the pupil-teacher ratio at primary or secondary school levels. Of course, that is not true. My colleague has set out in very real terms the kind of devastation which will be caused by the withdrawal of what I calculate to be approximately 400 posts. Perhaps the Minister will give the exact figure today. That will be a devastating blow to schools, children and communities and will damage not only children's education, but their social and life opportunities.

I note when the Minister deals with this matter it is referred to as a "legacy" issue. He knows as well as I do that in the communities where DEIS schools are located there are legacies of poverty, need and underachievement in education. Previously, a Labour Party Government vowed to break the cycle and give every child the chance he or she deserves. These actions will undo very much of that work. It is ironic that one Labour Party Minister would sabotage the good work of a previous Labour Party Minister.

At some stage today the Minister met with a group of teachers from the north inner city of Dublin. I am sure they set out for him in concrete terms what it means in a school to lose three, four, five or, in some cases, as many as eight teachers, and how damaging this will be for the children concerned. I am very sure they told the Minister he must stop these cuts. I take this opportunity again to ask the Minister to stop these cuts which will do untold damage. If his Administration claims to have a commitment to education, early childhood intervention, equality of opportunity and the protection not only of children's education, but of their life chances, the Minister has no option other than to stop these cuts.

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