Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What I say to them is this Government is delivering a record number of new schools and new school extensions. The Department of Education has a record budget for capital. Throughout the country people can see new schools being built. I will ask the Minister for Education to engage directly with Deputy O'Callaghan on the specific Gaelcholáiste he referenced in his constituency.

It is overly simplistic – in fact, it is misleading – to suggest that by providing some money in the here and now, we are stopping an ability to do some of those projects. As the Deputy well knows, the cost-of-living measures are all funded from part of the surplus in 2024 and the projects he talks about in regard to long-term investment are funded from 2025. This country has an ability to do more than one thing at the same time. Providing people with a little bit of help to assist them and their family through the winter period is a good thing. In regard to the phone pouches, some of the faux outrage in this House has been utterly disingenuous. I do not know if any Members heard some of the schoolchildren, because I listened to them-----

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