Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, my seconder, and all those Senators who have contributed to this debate. It is unfortunate that the Government has failed to address the real problems of education today. While the Minister of State says we are having a revolution in primary schools, with fewer pupils in classes of 30 or more, the sad reality is that we have more than 101,000 students in classes of 30 or more. We are at the bottom of the class size league table in the OECD report. There may be some who do not wish to hear that, but it is the sad reality for many students. We speak of planning school buildings for the future of education, but 58,000 new students will enter primary school within a few years. If we already have such class sizes, how will it be then? We have had no sign from the Government that we might possibly have adequate facilities or accommodation for them.

We heard Senators' comments in support of the Government's view on class sizes, but we are not tackling the issue, despite the fact that we have had probably the greatest opportunity under any Government in this nation's history in terms of available resources. I reiterate for Government supporters that the OECD report, A Glance at Education, published last September, shows Ireland trailing other countries when it comes to education spending relative to our economic wealth. Our per capita gross domestic product spending is lower than that in most other countries. We are 29th of 30 countries in spending terms. Some Senators on the Government side said that we had not recognised what had been done in the shape of the new teacher appointments for special needs. The record will show that I warmly welcomed that as one positive Government contribution towards alleviating difficulties.

Senator O'Toole said that we should not use the fact that we prioritised special needs as an excuse for failure in other areas. We all welcomed that initiative, but the Government had to do it because it was forced to meet special needs by legislation. It was not the case that the Government decided to prioritise it; it had no option.

Senator Minihan said that we should get things right, and I agree with him. Across the board, we must get them right. There are situations in the Department of Education and Science and the Government generally where matters are not right, and that is why people say that there are no policies.

One of the most important policy areas we will set about changing if we form the next Government is the planning section of the Department of Education and Science responsible for school buildings. That section is totally wrong. It does not function as a normal enterprise would in the real world. It proceeds at a snail's pace. The Minister herself has visited Aughrim and Ballinasloe where she witnessed the complaints personally. People have been waiting there for ten years. Coincidentally, I will raise a matter on the Adjournment later concerning a school that has been the subject of dithering for eight years about what to do with it. As long as we have such indecision we will have failure and doubt. I agree with Senator Minihan on that issue.

In 2002, we were promised that every schoolteacher would have a computer. Our party leader, Deputy Kenny, has clearly outlined the importance of IT facilities in many educational disciplines, but particularly in mathematics and science. On many occasions, the Minister has mentioned the importance of tackling both those subjects but they would have been greatly enhanced if every child had access to a computer at school. The provision of IT facilities helps the educational process enormously.

As regards the other areas that have been mentioned, it should be noted that money was never as available for supporting education as is currently the case. Senators have repeatedly pointed out that our economic boom has been built on education. At the Minister's programme launch yesterday, the need for investment in all levels of education was made quite clear to her. If we do not get it right at primary level, however, the plan will collapse and we will not have the transition from second to third level the Minister expects. Such a developing transition to tertiary education is required in order that the current economic boom can continue. That is the sad reality facing us today.