Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 61 together.

The context for any discussion about pupil-teacher ratios or class sizes is that my Department, like all other Departments, is operating within a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. My focus is on ensuring we have school places and teachers for the thousands of additional pupils entering our schools each year. I will consider all of these matters with my Cabinet colleagues in the context of next week's budget. The Government will endeavour to protect front-line education services as far as possible. This must be done within the context of bringing our overall public expenditure into line with what we can afford as a country.

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