Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

That is what we have at present; that is the threshold. It is 12 for the second teacher. Consider the spectrum beginning with a primary school of that scale and ending with one such as the one I opened recently just outside Naas, which has 700 pupils, including young pre-school, crèche and special needs children. Trying to deliver the same curriculum to the latter school, with its required number of teachers and resources, and to some of the smaller schools is difficult, even in good or flaithiúlach times. We are not in flaithiúlach times – quite the contrary – and we must, therefore, be open to considering changes.

I thank the Senators for their responses. I look forward to Committee Stage.