Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

The Department has promised to double the capitation grants but there is no indication when this money will appear. As a result, there is a concern that primary schools can be run on the generosity of parents and on how much money they can contribute.

Class sizes are also a major issue. Large class sizes have resulted largely from the lack of a coherent school planning programme at a time of an expanding commuter belt and of expanding towns and villages within that belt. Housing estates were built with no forward planning for the provision of schools and additional classrooms to cater for the increased school population. It has led to a huge increase in pressure on schools in nearby towns and a dramatic and unpredictable increase in class sizes.

I will focus on some schools in the commuter belt. Class sizes of 27 pupils per teacher are being managed in Duleek national school. Class sizes of 30 pupils per teacher are anticipated in the national school in Donore from later this year. Kentstown national school, which is in dire need of a new school building, expects to have a massive increase of pupils and it is expected it will have a pupil-teacher ratio of 33 pupils for every teacher this September. Those class sizes can be compared or contrasted with class sizes in the member states of some of our European Union colleagues. Slovakia has class sizes of 17 or 18 pupils per teacher, which is nearly half the pupil-teacher ratio we have. Despite this, we expect to compete with these countries in Europe in the future.

Stamullen national school, which is just north of Balbriggan, is also suffering in terms of class sizes. As Balbriggan has continued to grow more and more parents have found it difficult to enrol their children in schools in the town, class sizes in Stamullen national school have increased.

For a Government that made so many promises just nine months ago about how it would reduce class sizes, there is no real evidence that anything has been done. If anything, concerns about this issue are now even greater than they were in 2007. When there is a large increase in enrolments, a school can apply for development status and following approval by the Department, the allocation of additional teachers can be sanctioned for the school. However, it makes little sense that teachers in a school such as Kentstown national school or Donore national school who teach under the pressure of large class sizes must make do with their allocation for the whole academic year before the Department allocates additional teaching resources. Surely a better system should be put in place. If it is known that schools predict a large increase in enrolments, surely that can be acted on earlier than the start of the next academic year to ensure the required teachers are in place.

Another issue that is a cause of concern is the location of schools, access to them and road safety in their environs. A new commercial development has been built beside Donore national school which has caused additional traffic not only during its construction but also following it. Parents are concerned about the impact of the additional traffic on road safety and on their children accessing the school safely.

In another school in Bellewstown in east Meath, quarry traffic passes the school daily but, unfortunately, the council can only afford to improve road safety outside three schools in east Meath every year. This year road safety will be improved outside the schools in Knockcommon, Stackallen and Lobinstown, but other schools such as the school in Donacarney will have to wait their turn, and the impact it will have on children's safety is worrying. It is vital that more money is invested in initiatives such as walking buses and safe routes to schools to make it easier for children to go to and from schools.

The primary education system is the bedrock of our economy. Our future economic growth depends on it. I listened to the Minister's speech with interest but am concerned it amounts to just more empty promises. We cannot survive on empty promises. More money needs to be invested in our schools. More teachers and better school buildings are required. The Independent Senators' motion reflects that and more money needs to be invested in this important area.