Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

Over the last number of weeks I have met many principals, deputy principals and teachers across County Wexford in the context of the upcoming budget next week. Among the issues highlighted to me is the fact that at the moment Ireland has the highest pupil-teacher ratio across the EU, at 22.5 pupils per teacher. When it comes to next week's budget, I urge the Minister for education and the Minister for public expenditure to make available the resources necessary to ensure that we start to bring this pupil-teacher ratio back down and ensure that every child in the country gets the quality of education they deserve, so they are not in overcrowded classrooms.

Second, they highlighted to me the fact that many schools have to fundraise because of the costs associated with lighting, insurance and heating.With the capitation grant currently set at €224, the INTO has called on the Minister to make available an increase in the amount of €75 to get to grips with the current energy costs schools are experiencing. While I acknowledge that we have had solar for schools rolled out to so many schools across the country, energy bills still have a big impact on capitation grant spending.

In rural areas, the small schools pilot scheme has proven to be successful and it is now time to roll it out across the country. I very much support the calls of those teachers to proceed with that. Again, I encourage this House to raise it with the Minister for Education and Youth and the Minister for public expenditure so that those resources would be made available for education to ensure that children starting their school experience this year see it right through with top-quality education.