Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will revert to the Deputies with greater detail and ensure the information is accurate. I reiterate that, since taking office, the Government has ring-fenced the total number of special needs assistants, as Deputy McConalogue correctly noted, and overall monetary allocations in real terms. Demand has continued to increase, however, and while the Government will argue it is not making cutbacks, the Deputies opposite may well argue that the force of nature is driving up demand and failure to meet this demand is tantamount to a cutback. Either way, we are all concerned to ensure that young people with special educational requirements receive the kind of resources we can provide to them. While the figures may not be complete, I have no difficulty sharing them with Members of the House.

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