Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)

I will begin by quoting a statistic. In 1924, there were 5,700 schools, 80% of which were one or two-teacher schools. We debate this very important subject in the middle of the greatest economic crisis with which this country has ever had to deal. We are relying on our European neighbours to pay our bills. Some of the indications are that we are heading in the right direction but some difficult decisions have had to be made and difficult decisions will remain to be made to get us back on the right economic track.

Some 80% of the Minister's budget, which was approximately €8 billion last year, was spent on pay and pensions in that sector. That leaves approximately €1 billion with which to play around. That really ties the Minister's hands behind his back. It is very difficult to find savings within that very narrow economic constraint.

It is Government policy to support the Croke Park Agreement but it is not policy to support wage militance. Now is the time for trade unionists to lead and to bring their membership with them and to stop hiding behind children to advance a very narrow avarice objective. I want to reiterate that point.

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