Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive answer.

While parents send their children to private schools, they continue to pay taxes that support the overall education system. No child should be discriminated against, as far as I am concerned. The allocation of public funds for education reflects the Government's priorities, societal values and the need to balance the complete demand for resources. These are parents and children are equal stakeholders in the education sector. As policymakers, we need to evaluate the implications on education's funding decisions on equity, access and the overall quality of education for all of our children and all of the students in education, and that includes the children within fee-paying education.