Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

However, he had to acknowledge the reality and he has brought those 500 posts forward to ensure there will not be a cut. There is an outstanding question in that regard. The Minister has not clarified if there will be additional resource teaching hours this autumn to meet the demand that will exist. We need clarity on that but we have not been given it.

To conclude, the motion seeks two things. The first is that additional resource teachers be hired because of the 12% cut which students will experience as a result of increased demand and the cap remaining the same. Thankfully, the Minister admitted that was a cut and has provided those teachers. The second part of the motion asks that additional special needs assistants be hired in response to the fact that as the cap remains in place and demand has increased by 10%, the same number of teachers will have to be shared among 10% more children, leading to more sharing of SNAs and cuts for the students who qualify for SNAs. None of the government Deputies made reference tonight to the fact that there will be more pressure on SNAs and that 10% more children will be availing of SNA support, leading to 10% thinner provision of SNA support. Please admit there is a cut and treat these children fairly by hiring additional services, so no child will have to experience a reduction in the service being provided to them by the State when the new term starts in September.

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