Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to some of the decisions taken. Carers took a disproportionate hit to their income when the respite care grant was cut. Let us remember that the carer's allowance, which was brought in by Fianna Fáil when in government, is paid to the only social welfare recipients who actually work for their payment. They provide 24-7 care to a loved one. The children's allowance took a further hit, despite the election promise made by a particular party which was in full knowledge of the economic constraints the country faced when it made that promise. There was a cut to the provision of guidance counsellors. The abolition of the PRSI exemption hits people by exactly the same amount, whether they are on €20,000 per annum or €200,000 per annum. Where is the fairness or equality in that cut? It is not there.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, in his first budget, tried to undermine DEIS schools, a policy which was initiated and pursued to help the most disadvantaged and marginalised in society. Only last week, the Minister and the Government had to do a U-turn when they deliberately tried to target children with special needs and disabilities and in need of learning supports by capping the number of resource teachers and special needs assistants. I welcome the fact the Minister did a partial U-turn and acknowledge the fact he will employ additional resource teachers.

I still have a concern, which I outlined last week, that the number of children requiring special needs assistants, SNAs, will increase this September by 2,000 while at the same time the number of SNAs will remain capped.

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