Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will support a school (details supplied) in Dublin 7. [19260/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The details supplied by the Deputy relate to the impact on a particular school in Dublin 7 of a number of the budget measures. I have consistently said that the 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were included in the Budget day announcements. My Department has also followed with guidance to schools in the form of new circulars in the areas such as the allocation of language support teachers and also the new interim arrangements for substitution cover. These circulars are available on my Department's website. Even with the Budget measures in place there will still be a significantly increased borrowing requirement in 2009.

I fully accept that these decisions are not of themselves desirable and that they can only be justified by the imperative of securing the future economic stability of the country. I have called for co-operation from all the education partners in meeting the challenges facing us both as an education community and as a country.