Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With respect, we listened to what the Deputy had to say, yet she interrupts again. At what stage will the Opposition deal with the issue of such waste by being specific? Where is money being wasted in education? It is the Opposition's contention that we should be spending more money on education. We are doing this. One Member opposite referred to disadvantaged programmes. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, introduced the disadvantage programme which provides for an additional 640 schools in the primary sector, 180 in the most disadvantaged areas, and 200 post-primary schools. The programme will be rolled out and will provide an additional 300 teachers. We are providing more teachers than we envisaged in the 2002 programme.

We have decided to provide more money to deal with people with disabilities and special needs. There are now 7,000 special needs assistants where there were 300.

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