Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)

This is a very serious topic and I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on it. I am also glad so many guidance counsellors made the effort to come to the House today. I have spoken to a number of these teachers who are fine principled people, very skilled and focused in what they do. They are the type of people I would be proud to have teaching my sons or daughters.

Let us focus on what they have to do and look at possible solutions. In the first place, they play a very important role at junior certificate level, in that they focus young children down the career path for which they have the aptitude. I am very concerned about getting children to take the route of sciences because this will back up the food industry which is a major part of our economy. I have been through that myself and I recognise the importance of getting people into this stream. I also recognise the role of these teachers in CAO guidance, which can be a conundrum for many parents. There is also the role of career guidance teachers in recognising children who are vulnerable, due to many different circumstances.

It is fine for me - or for the Opposition - to state the Government must row back on decisions but we must recognise the problems. It is incumbent on all of us to find solutions. As the previous Deputy noted, 20% of the budget is where all the cuts have to be made. Achieving €350 million in cuts is hard to do. The Minister, Deputy Quinn, is correct when he states that if he rows back on one side he will have to give to another. We have to look at what can be rowed back upon and see if this can be resolved.

First, the teachers' unions must become professional. They must allow and facilitate the Minister to increase class sizes by at least two pupils. The unions have short-changed career guidance teachers and this must be examined. I do not believe in yellow-back career guidance. I am very anxious to ensure people head down the correct route. However, in order to find the savings for this service we should urge teachers and their unions to have flexibility on the issue.

One thing that comes to mind, about which I feel very passionate, is the school transport system which costs €110 million. From the work I have done, it is my view that this system should be scrapped.

See this speech in context