Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's positive approach to addressing class sizes. This is further to the work of Deputy Finian McGrath, who informed me a minute ago that in his talks with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, she has also acknowledged the anomaly referred to. I am sure the Taoiseach will give her full support in sorting out the exercise and initiative to get that under way in the forthcoming announcements and budgets, etc.

Primary education is the foundation of the education system and the bedrock on which everything else is built. It is imperative that we give our primary school children a proper chance. No matter how much investment we deliver further up in the education system, it will never solve the problems that are sown by the short-changing and under-funding of the primary school system and our younger children. It is evident in many parts of our primary school system that Government funding does not cover ancillary costs, such as heating, lighting, information and communications technology, offices, etc. In many cases the parents and principals at local level have to sacrifice many things to make up the deficit - classroom equipment falls under this area as well - and that is not right. Vital equipment is being short-funded and this places considerable stress on the system, on parents, naturally, and on the principal as well. On top of this we have voluntary boards of management.

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