Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to concerns of the Irish National Teachers Organisation with regard to schools in rural Ireland, including the issues of class sizes, funding inequality between primary and secondary schools and the increased workload for many school teachers and principals who lack the support of a middle-management infrastructure in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33981/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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There are many demands on me for extra investment at all levels including those raised by the INTO. At the INTO Congress last Easter I indicated that improving the position in relation to primary class size is one of my priorities. I have already indicated that I am determined that education should be prioritised for investment as our economy recovers and I will be seeking to agree a set of priorities for such increased investment into the future. In the last Budget, I was able to secure the first increase in education spending in recent years. I am very aware that we need to invest more in our youngest children, and in supporting parents to make the choices that are right for them. Our schools need more staffing, better funding, and functioning middle-management structures and I am determined that we will build on what we achieved last year.

The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.