Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The pupil-teacher ratio is fixed. If there are more pupils, there are more teachers. The fact is that there are 900 additional teachers this year. The Deputy has spoken about slashing public services. I reiterate that there have been no compulsory redundancies. In such circumstances, how can he say there has been slashing? Everybody who has left has retired naturally or has chosen to leave. Nobody has been forced out. There has been no slashing in this country, unlike other countries that have faced the economic pressures and crises we have faced. We have had none of what happened in Spain or Greece. We have maintained and increased the level of efficiency in the public service with the co-operation of public servants, to their great credit. I acknowledge that they have endured reductions in pay rates, increased hours and more pressure. They are to be lauded and congratulated for that. When we get beyond this crisis, we will have a better public service that is more in tune with modernity. We will be able to grow the public service again to meet the new demands of a different type of society.

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