Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We are bringing forward a counter-motion supportive of the Government in response to the motion from the Labour Party. This outlines our position and recognises the economic situation we face. Difficult decisions must be taken, including those on education. The counter-motion also outlines the significant improvements seen in education in recent years. It outlines our commitment to working with our partners in education in the implementation of these decisions, which must be implemented. There is a commitment from Government, which is always the case since we are parties which have always supported education during the good times and have shown as much in successive budgets and Estimates.

However, given the new situation, we maintain as soon as the economic situation improves we can revert to those policies of expansion and improvement. In the meantime the position is that given the economic downturn affecting this country and others, we must take the decisions for the coming financial year which are the responsibility of a Government, and we must proceed with those decisions. We will do so in as sensitive, honest and decent a way as possible.

The Minister for Education and Science has responsibility for the day-to-day budget and he will continue to act and to implement the decisions taken by the Government. The counter-motion set out by the Government confirms that decision. From the time this issue arose after the budget, the Minister for Education and Science has outlined that the question of two language support teachers per school was being re-introduced——

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