I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 53 together.
I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the overall number of teaching posts in the education sector or on any changes to the pupil teacher ratio and the impact it could have. These are issues that I am considering with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the forthcoming budget discussions and meeting our obligations under the EU/IMF Programme.
The Government will endeavour to protect front line education services as best as possible. However, this must be done within the context of bringing our overall public expenditure back into line with what we can afford as a country. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that are provided to schools are used by them to maximum effect in terms of providing an appropriate range of subjects and in delivering the best possible outcomes for their pupils.