Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 121: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason he did not consider removing State support for private, fee-paying schools in budget 2009; if his failure to do so is in line with his recent comments on third level education and making 33,000 millionaire families pay appropriate fees; his views on the principle of universal access to free education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38017/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy is aware, due to current economic constraints, the Government has had to make extremely difficult decisions and choices across all public services and education is no different. There is an inescapable fact that pay constitutes the bulk of current expenditure on education and therefore measures impacting on the teaching resources available to schools were necessary.

The funding of teacher salaries in fee-paying schools by the State has been a long standing feature of our education system and one continued by successive Governments. In the absence of fee-paying schools and the enrolment of all pupils in the non-fee paying sector, there would be subsequent additional costs and teachers would still have to be paid.

The specific measures I have had to take in relation to the staffing schedule have to be seen in this light. I had to take a measured and balanced view of what was reasonable in the circumstances.