Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Thomas Byrne, I wish to refer to pay restoration. I see the circulated document gives a figure for pay restoration. There is a budgetary allocation that includes provision of €236 million for salary increases to more than 106,000 whole-time equivalent staff numbers under the various pay restoration agreements. Will the Minister clarify if that is the figure he is working with? We all heard what the Taoiseach said yesterday about possibly going into further negotiations. It is a similar question, but on whether that figure is negotiable. I think it can only be negotiated in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

When we were asked if we had any particular issues, I indicated I was interested in special education. I refer in particular to the new model and what the financial implications might be. In the circulated document there is a figure of 100 additional resource teachers to be appointed from September 2018. It says that is to meet the needs of new and rapidly developing schools and funding is also to meet the costs of teaching posts in special classes in special schools. All of that is welcome. However, I just wanted to get a sense of whether and how the new model was affecting the financial resources towards resource teachers? Are the figures growing in largely the same way as they would have under the old model or is there a change? It may be more of a policy issue, but I would be interested in how the new model is working in schools.

Special schools are also under particular pressure because we have so many special classes now. That is a good thing. Many children are able to go to regular schools in special classes. I refer in particular to children on the autism spectrum. However, that means that children in special schools sometimes have greater needs. How are those extra posts allocated? We do have figures on special needs assistants, SNAs. I do not think there is any need to ask a further question except to note that they are continually rising, as they have done over a number of years. Again, that is responding to need. Is there a ongoing review of the SNA system?

On the curricular reforms, particular at junior cycle, is extra funding required for subjects like well-being for example? Is there a specific extra allocation in that area and for the other curricular reform areas? I think they are in the figures but whether they are specifically anywhere in the figures, I am not too sure.