Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with the Deputy about the importance of the issue. In the past year we have made significant inroads in this area. A further commitment is that we are making available to schools additional teaching resources in terms of teaching and learning for pupils, who may even more so this year have felt disadvantaged because of Covid. That is significant. An 800-pupil school will get 900 hours, which is 51 weeks teaching or one and a half full posts for a year. It is a significant additional investment in our schools.

Equally, I would point to the three-point reduction that was brought in as a consequence of the budget last year which allowed for the retention of a teacher within a school. I am very cognisant of the importance of this. I think substantial progress has been made but, as always, we are committed to doing even more. Our commitment here is not to be underestimated.

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