Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

-----are fundamental to dealing with the gap between public expenditure and revenue. With one third of all public sector employees working in the education sector, it is not possible to leave staffing levels untouched. None the less, despite difficult circumstances the Government is trying to protect frontline services at a time of rapidly rising enrolment in our schools.

It is clear from the Deputies opposite that while they demand changes to the budget on guidance they are really calling on us to avoid making any reduction. That is simply not realistic nor credible.

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