Government and opposition at odds over health of education system

A WAR of words has erupted between the government and opposition parties on the eve of a Dáil debate on education.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin launched a pre-emptive strike on critics by claiming credit for Ireland’s most dramatic ever increases in teacher numbers.

Opposition parties have hit back, suggesting that her numbers don’t add up and the Government’s record on education amounts to broken promises, over-crowded schools and children without school places.