Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

-----at least 600 teaching posts will be removed from Irish schools this September. The reversal regarding the DEIS band one and band two schools, or the U-turn, only applies to urban schools because that is where Labour gets its votes. Let us face it - this is about votes and it is not about children. While the decisions on the legacy posts are being reversed, there will still be 320 posts removed from DEIS band one and band two schools as a result of the changes to the staffing schedule. According to the Minister, a total of 73 rural schools will lose posts this year. In addition, administrative principal posts will go and other legacy posts in DEIS rural schools will also go, a total of approximately 200 posts. When this is all added together, it makes a total of 800 teaching posts being removed from schools this year.