Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Fleming for his comments. Someone once said that the future of civilisation is being written in the classrooms. There is no question of the importance and priority being attached to education. Deputy Fleming mentioned three aspects, namely, smaller classes, better funding and support for teachers. We do not have all the money that we would like to invest in the education system, in primary, secondary, third level and fourth level. However, I believe serious progress is being made. It is true there are classes with too many pupils in many places in the country. On the other side, there are classes with too few pupils because of the drop in numbers in some of the schools. If we were to equalise them throughout the country we would probably have an average but that is not physically possible.

It is important to say that the programme and strategy set out by the Minister for Education and Skills is to eliminate all the prefabs over a period. The next bundle of schools has already been sent out to the public private partnership process to build and provide accommodation. The new facilities being provided for schools, particularly in the private sector, are exceptional, as is the impact of the summer works scheme, which allows great work to be done in a short period with necessary improvements in places throughout the country.

It is equally important for us to understand that there are few influences on the life and mind of a young person like a teacher who has the interest, motivation and capacity to inspire young minds. In many of the places I visit throughout the country in industry and in business we see our young people who have come through the education system. They are the envy of so many others. While the situation is not perfect, it is one that allows for people to reach their best. For those who, for one reason or another, have a challenge it is necessary to continue to supply special needs assistants and resource teachers.

Opportunity is given to schools to have greater devolved power to make choices in the subjects they wish to teach, be it short courses in secondary schools or whatever. There have been changes in the curriculum. The voluntary movement of CoderDojo, for instance, enables young children of six and seven years of age to understand the writing of code that drives the computers that change the frontiers up ahead. This is evident in many places throughout the country. The Minister for Education and Skills will consider the question of class sizes in the context of the forthcoming budget in October. These decisions cost money. I remember on the first occasion I took classes many years ago I think I had 65 in two classes. In such circumstances it is an impossibility to do the job properly, as Deputies will know.

I would like to think that we can have a system where we have competition within the class. Peer competition is important. In the context of the forthcoming budget the Minister will look at the question and the opportunity that might present itself to deal with the question Deputy Fleming has raised.

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