Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Brian Hayes for tabling the motion. The Department's motives for this decision are based purely on bookkeeping. In my contribution to the Private Members' debate to encourage the Government to reduce the number of junior Ministers from 20 to 12, I pointed out the saving involved would almost cover the cuts in special needs provision of €7 million. The Minister of State with responsibility for children had the audacity to reply that we were wasting valuable time on such a paltry figure and we were like turkeys voting for Christmas.

St. Fergal's resource centre in Bray, County Wicklow, has two special needs classes with 18 children. The maximum number of children allowed is 11 and the minimum is nine. The school is under instruction to lose a class and to pick 11 children for the remaining class. I presume the SENO will have to play God regarding the nine children who will be transferred to mainstream classes, which are increasing in size anyway as a result of other cutbacks and the failure of the Government to honour its commitment to reduce pupil-teacher ratios in mainstream classes. In addition, many children who speak different languages and who have different cultural backgrounds are in mainstream classes and the Minister is asking children who are in a special class for mild and general learning disabilities to go into this mainstream environment. The Minister suggests this is a better environment and will give the children a better opportunity. Has it been the attitude of the Government parties in recent years to provide additional classes because it looks good, or to provide such classes because they are needed but we must be tough with people? Neither attitude is fair. My wife is a learning support teacher in a small school where provision is adequate, as there is no need for a general class.

Thankfully the Taoiseach reduced the number of junior Ministers to five. The saving of €750,000 per Minister of State would go a significant way if it were targeted at special needs education. While that is a simplistic way of looking at the issue, if the Government is to give example by cutting the cost of governance, the money should be allocated to projects that work. When Finland experience a recession in 1991-92 similar to that we are experiencing now, more money, not less, was invested in education. The result is every mobile telephone manufacturer in the world is trying to take over from Nokia as market leader. While it may not be directly related, the Finnish Government educated its citizens to a level where it is the most competitive nation for one of the most sought after technological devices, which indicates that if a country wants to overcome a recession, it does not start by targeting education and, in particular, those who are most vulnerable and who need an opportunity.

The Government's amendment states it will fund the provision of additional support. When one nets off the saving of €7 million, one will be down to a minimal figure. Children will leave primary school ill-prepared for secondary education and society and the challenges they face in securing gainful employment in order that they do not cost the State money in another form.

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