Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I spoke in the Seanad a couple of days ago about the suggestion that the programme will conclude at the end of this year. My understanding is that it will run until the end of the current academic year in June 2012. We fully accept the desirability of the EU policy direction set out in the Barcelona agreement. That does not necessarily mean such an approach is practicable in every member state. Our national languages - Irish and English - are given recognition under our Constitution and are taught at primary level. I would argue that the teaching of those two languages enhances the ability of a child to readily absorb other languages later in life.

It was not easy to decide to end this scheme. I know the Minister, Deputy Quinn, gave careful consideration before the decision was taken to the concerns that were expressed from a number of quarters about the teaching of languages. This country will face an incredible challenge in the next few years.

Education is part of the four year recovery plan. We must find €350 million of savings between now and 2014. We are seeking to manage this reduction in a way that is as fair as possible. We had to take some difficult decisions in the run-up to the budget. It was difficult making the decision to end this initiative. We decided to shield front line services in schools as best we can and to the greatest extent possible. The pupil-teacher ratio remains intact. Resource teaching and SNA supports that are available to children with special needs remain intact.

We are also focusing, as we must, on our capital building programme in coming years in order to respond to a very serious demographic challenge. Thankfully, this is a positive one in that we must address serious population growth in the next few years. Between now and 2017 we must find room for 70,000 extra children in our schools. We are engaging in a €2.2 billion capital programme in the coming years in order to respond to that challenge.

It is a difficult decision and was not taken lightly. However, in the context of what we had to do, it was the only decision available to us at the time.

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