Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

That is the Deputy's educated estimate. I will stick to the brief I have. That money will be a mixture of expenditure reduction and changes in taxation, and decisions on those matters have not yet been finalised. They are under active discussion.

The Department of Education and Skills is one of the big spending Departments along with the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection, so I must look at areas in which I can reduce expenditure in a prudent and responsible way. I am aware of the deep concerns within the Protestant or Reformed Church community about possible additional reductions which would have a disproportionate impact on their school infrastructure. I have met some people about the matter and Deputies on all sides of the House have been contacted about it. There are real concerns on the part of people who have expressed them about what could possibly happen to schools of their ethos. I am highly sensitive to their concerns.

See this speech in context