Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The Minister is disingenuous when he uses the argument that small schools are somehow better off than larger schools in terms of class size. This ignores the challenges faced by small schools in terms of teaching children of different ages, grade and ability in one classroom setting. I know because I was there.

Last night, the Minister accused us of creating a new, manufactured and artificial division in rural Ireland. Let us look at the communities that have travelled here tonight to express their anger. Is it artificial? It is not just Members on this side of the House who are totally opposed to these measures. The Association of County and City Councils unanimously passed a motion calling for the reversal of these cuts. The association is representative of members of all political parties and none and, just as the Government parties hold a majority in the House, they hold one in that association. Members of the Government parties had busloads of people protesting outside the gates of Leinster House last week and were extremely disappointed-----

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