I propose to take Priority Question No. 3 and Questions Nos. 34 and 70 together.
I should point out that the figures on which the OECD report is based refer to the year 1988. Since then, spending on primary education has increased by 28 per cent. The OECD report also shows that we invest more of our wealth in education than the OECD average — 6.2 per cent of GDP as against an OECD average of 5.7 per cent. The need to ensure that as many young people as possible are provided with the facilities to complete a second-level education and, particularly in view of the employment situation, to build up the provision for third-level education and training has placed an enormous burden on our resources. The extraordinary measure of success which has attended the efforts made in these two sectors must be acknowledged.
Specifically in relation to pupil-teacher ratio, there has been a number of improvements in the ratio in recent years. It now stands at 25.2:1 at primary level for the current school-year and will be further reduced to 25:1 in 1993-94, down from 27.5:1 in 1988-89. The pupil-teacher ratio at second level has also been reduced in recent years.
I agree that there is a measure of balance to be redressed and priority will need to be given to the primary sector in the provision of resources in the future.