Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Deputy Kenny has stolen my lines. On the issue I raised mistakenly before this group of questions was reached, the programme for Government is clear in its commitment to avoid any increase in the pupil-teacher ratio in either primary or second level schools and uses the phrase, "for the lifetime of this Government". I again suggest to the Taoiseach that his unwillingness to affirm the commitment of his party and his colleagues in power to this commitment places the entire programme in question. This is a highly important and strong statement of intent and it deserves a better response than the one secured. I also make this point with regard to the standard capitation grant.

My final point on education is that the programme for Government states "Those with special needs will be safeguarded". Will the Taoiseach rule out any further reductions in special needs assistance and other supports to keep the commitment to, as the programme states, "continue to develop therapy services for children with special needs attending mainstream schools"? These are the areas about which Members are being asked on a continuous basis by people in the education sector. There are real concerns and worries in this regard that should be set aside by a clear and unequivocal answer from the Taoiseach in this Chamber this afternoon.

As for the health commitments in the programme for Government, it states that under equity of access, the new consultants' contract-----

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