Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

I am sure we all remember when the budget was announced in the House. We were told that one of its greatest achievements was that the pupil-teacher ratio had not been affected. That was the stuff of smoke and mirrors because in significant ways the pupil-teacher ratio in schools had been adversely affected in respect of the provision of guidance counsellors, proposed staffing schedules for rural schools and some of the most disadvantaged schools across the State. The two Ministers present know we should not be having this debate. No one on either side of the House should be present to debate this matter because at this time there should be no question of dismantling the guidance teacher provision. There should be no question of undermining rural schools, but, above all, there should be no question of damaging or disrupting the DEIS system.

In the Minister's comments last night and the amendment tabled by the Government I notice that those responsible are quick enough to give themselves a pat on the back for their achievements in government in the 1990s with the Breaking the Cycle and other programmes to which the amendment refers. I have no difficulty with this.

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