Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

It has not been the case that disadvantage was treated equally. Former Ministers attempted to equalise the allocation of scarce resources but it was not done because of the sorts of arguments made now.

I will examine carefully how these measures are implemented. I will discuss with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, how we can combine the home school liaison and school completion programmes. Teachers have informed me that many of the problems they face originate outside the classroom. The solution is not necessarily more teachers but much more home support-----

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