Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)

Like the previous speaker, I welcome the debate on the subject of SNAs and resource teachers.

Since it was introduced in 2001, the scheme has proved to be a valuable asset to schools giving confidence to children with special needs and their parents. An important principle in a democratic parliament, and one with which I agree, is that the Opposition can raise matters such as the provision of special needs assistants, the minimum wage and joint labour committee agreements. Like others, I welcome such debates with one proviso – that the truth is told in them. In my first 130 days as a Member, I have noticed the old cliché, the first causality of war is truth, also applies to private Members' motions. Tonight not one Member on the other side of the House, some of whom, but not all of them, I have respect for, referred to the facts about educational supports.

These are the facts. This year 10,575 special needs assistants will be available, more than were available in 2010. At a time when a moratorium on public service recruitment is in place, there is none on resource and learning support teachers. I commend the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, for increasing the number of resource teachers allocated this year by 350.

None of these facts, were alluded to by any Member opposite. Neither did any Member opposite refer to the fact the economy is knackered. They believe no one has left the country or that anybody is unemployed, when for instance, my children and my neighbours' have. The economy is simply in bits. I found listening to the Technical Group – which I refer to as the Highly Technical Group because it comprises stockbrokers and developers – stomach churning, particularly when on 30 September 2008 some of that group raced to vote for the blanket bail out of Anglo Irish Bank and others. Not one of them referred to this fact this evening. It is a bit like the old adage, "Who Fears to Speak of '98?".

See this speech in context