Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A possible solution would have been for the Government to keep its promise on regaining the money that was pumped into the European banking system, but it has given up on that. It is often stated that if one wants more teachers on the available budget, one must examine wages, in that teachers in Ireland are paid more than is the case in other parts of Europe. We never hear the other side of the equation - it is more expensive to live in Ireland than in any other European country. This is not by accident. Rather, it is down to a lack of action by the Government. Many of the businesses with which people must deal are driven by cartels that keep prices high. The rate system applied to businesses is unaccountable. Nothing has been done about upward-only rental leases. No matter what people in this country are paid, they will have a difficult time surviving.

If the Minister had done something about this he would have more teachers in schools and would get more bang for his buck. However, the Minister keeps doing it his way and keeps codding himself.

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