Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

Likewise, the Government's decision to bring forward the budget to next week is another strong signal that it is taking decisive action now to set about stabilising and restoring balance to the public finances and setting out the spending plans for 2009 earlier than originally planned. Through sensible and balanced management of the economy, this Government has ensured that the people of Ireland enjoy living standards that are among the highest in Europe. It is that sensible and balanced management of the economy that has enabled the Government to make substantial investment in education in the past decade. The Government is moving to protect the gains our country has made, including those in the education sector, by ensuring responsible management of the public finances.

I want to respond to some points made to me during the course of the debate, one of which is the issue of criteria, bands and the publication of those bands. I want transparency in everything that is done in the Department. Members should note that all of the projects are chosen on the basis of criteria agreed among the education partners. I am considering how that information can be made available on the Department's website. The website is being upgraded. That work will be completed before the end of the year and it is my intention to put all those projects on the website. That will meet the demands of people like Senator O'Toole.

I take issue with Members on the idea that principal teachers have too much time in class and not enough time for administration.