David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking the Adjournment matter but I strongly object to the comment that those who suggest consideration be given to providing additional teachers in order to reduce class sizes do not live in the real world. That is an appalling statement. It is a just demand made by parents and teachers that we should at least meet the international average and the average across the European Union. To say that parents and teachers who simply want acceptable class sizes in this State do not live in the real is appalling. For them, the real world seems to be where no end of money is available to put into banks to pay back the sins of developers, bankers and speculators, but putting money into education cannot happen. Raising taxation for those with the deepest pockets cannot happen. Increasing the universal social charge for higher earners cannot happen. That is the real world for those parents and teachers. It is the Government which is not living in the real world.

Those politicians who have been in these Houses for far too long, who do not understand what it is like for all the people suffering, are the ones who do not live in the real world. The real world is where those children in supersize classes, not getting the education they deserve, are being asked to pay the price for the sins of others. That is the real world I live in, along with the pupils and teachers of schools all across Waterford city and county.