Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government and the confidence and supply agreement both contain a commitment to provide additional capitation funding. When this Government was examining its priorities during the preparation of its first two budgets, it prioritised reducing the pupil-teacher ratio, enhancing the DEIS scheme, expanding the number of schools involved in the scheme and providing support to children with special educational needs. We have put almost 6,000 additional teachers into the system. We have been seeking to meet the most urgent needs. I fully recognise the pressure that schools are experiencing for reasons of capitation. We will assess this matter as we approach the 2019 budget.

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