Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I remind the Minister that this is the national Parliament and it, rather than the Minister, established the National Council for Special Education. If this Parliament determines to find out the number of posts lost, it should be given the relevant information. The view abroad is that the NCSE is doing the Minister's dirty work and he is hiding behind a new quango, having instructed it to remove 10% or more than 1,000 of the SNA posts. People believe the council is taking the flak and the Minister is able to hide behind the convenient propaganda that this is a matter for the NCSE. That excuse does not wash.

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