Particularly in regard to finance, will the Minister give us an indication of the priority which she attaches to the pupil-teacher ratio in relation to education? I am speaking of primary schools. Will she agree that with the existing financial resources a redeployment of financial resources towards primary level could effect a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio and this will be vital for our pupils all of whom go through primary level, all of whom do not go through second or third level?

I assure the Deputy that I gave a very high priority to the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level. On the question of resources, of course I will be putting in as many resources as possible. I think it has been pointed out clearly in the programme for action that priority in resources will be given to primary level and within that level to disadvantaged areas. The precise degree of those resources, as the Deputy knows, is not possible to state.

Would the Minister accept that the pupil-teacher ratio is the most funadmental issue that she has to tackle as Minister for Education to eliminate or diminish disadvantage? Is she prepared, in the context of a commitment within financial resources, to state to this House that within the next two years and by way of her submission to the Cabinet for the next budget she is going all out to get a commitment from her Government to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio within the next two years?

The pupil-teacher ratio has a very high priority, but disadvantage within the primary sector can depend on factors other than a pupil-teacher ratio, as I am sure the Deputy is well aware.

Is the Minister saying——

Allow me to finish the answer. Regarding the other question, the Deputy can be assured that I will try very hard to make sure that we can reduce the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level and within that whole question of additional teachers I will be looking at disadvantaged areas particularly.

Could I ask——

No. The Deputy is not even trying to play the game. Question No. 11.

11.