Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have 70,000 teachers in the primary and post-primary sectors. The pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools will decline naturally because of demographics. Speaking as a former school teacher, the fewer pupils one has in a class, the better the teaching environment for the teacher. That is a given but the challenge we have in the annual budget is deciding how much money will go into certain areas. This is an example of one of those conflicts. I remember last September and October arguing back and forth with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe on the need for more money for education. There are choices between third level education, special needs education so on. We are spending €2 billion out of €11 billion every year on special needs education but it is still not enough. The pupil-teacher ratio should also be lower. Commitments were given during the election to that effect and we all agree we should work towards that.

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