Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that we would all want it to be greater. It is a very good indication of what we had available to us that we would acknowledge the challenges that people face and that that bursary would be made available. On the support for special educational needs, 27% of the entire budget of the Department is spent on special education. That is as it should be. It is more than €2.7 billion. It is right and proper. We have more than 40,000 professionals working in that area. We have 3,000 special classes, two thirds of which were delivered under this Government. We have seven new special schools in place. The Deputy speaks about having the right facilities in which to work and the right environment in which to learn. All of them have that, notwithstanding the wider building provision in the context of the €1 billion available year on year over the past four years.

Regarding pay, I acknowledge that there were significant improvements under Building Momentum. The new pay agreement will mean that the rate of pay at the top of the scheme will be €85,000 and that the starting rate of pay for a new teacher when coming to a school will be €46,000.

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