Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the commitment in the Programme for National Recovery Plan 2010 - 2014 concerning additional posts in the education sector will be honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5639/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I do not propose to give any specific commitment at this point, as it is clearly a matter that I must consider with my colleagues in Cabinet having regard to the position in respect of public service numbers and payroll costs generally. I note that the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 makes provision for a net increase of just over 2,000 posts across the education sector between the end of 2010 and the end of 2014. The net increase factors in reductions that are being achieved this year through budgetary measures and some additional posts to cater for increasing demographics. Notwithstanding the additional posts for demographics, the recovery plan provides for a net reduction in teacher numbers in 2011. The detail on these measures was outlined in the 2011 budget introduced by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government. These budgetary measures have been notified to schools and will be proceeding as planned to take effect from September 2011.

The recovery plan also provides for consultation with the education partners on how best to achieve a further reduction in teacher payroll costs from 2012. It envisaged the introduction of appropriate increases in the classroom teacher allocation schedules if the consultation process did not produce alternative feasible measures to deliver the required savings. My Department will be conducting the consultation process over the coming months and I would encourage the partners to identify alternative measures that they believe would be feasible. Therefore, it is prudent not to give commitments at this stage beyond 2011 as to the overall number of posts in the education sector. The Government will endeavour to protect front line education services as best as possible. However, this must be done within the context of bringing our overall public expenditure back into line with what we can afford as a country. All areas of government will need to manage on a reduced level of resources. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that can be provided are used to maximum effect to achieve the best possible outcomes for pupils.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. This is my first public opportunity to wish the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, every success with the important work of the Department of Education and Skills.

The programme for Government clearly states that the Government will endeavour to protect front line services. In light of the fact that no reference is made to increasing the numbers working in education to meet demographic demands, namely, the pressure on the pupil-teacher ratio that will result from the requisite creation of new school places, will the Minister commit to supporting the proposal in the national recovery plan to increase the numbers working in education by 2,500?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for his good wishes, which I appreciate. We must respond to growth in demographics in the context of overall numbers, but I do not want to pre-empt a decision between the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, and myself. The figures have been set out and we intend to proceed on that basis. At the end of 2011, we will review the situation.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister mentioned how all Departments had their overall Estimates reduced. The 2011 provision for the Department of Education and Skills emerged relatively unscathed. Is the Minister committed to the maintenance of class sizes and the pupil-teacher ratio at their current levels and to the employment of primary and post-primary teachers to meet demographic needs? The Minister has only been in office for two weeks, but I assume he can give a clear commitment in respect of the necessary provision of classroom education and front line services.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am committed to maintaining the line established in respect of protecting and ring-fencing the education budget against the background of growing population numbers. However, all of this must be predicated on the reality that we are in a disastrous economic situation, the country is effectively in receivership and we are not in control of our financial affairs. We do not know what is coming down the line in terms of the macroeconomic situation in this country or the rest of Europe. With this caveat, I recognise that the outgoing Administration ring-fenced educational expenditure and I hope to be able to hold that line, but I am not in a position to give a categoric assurance, much as I would like to.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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At this early stage, I assume the Minister is in a position to say whether he sees potential within the overall Croke Park agreement to meet efficiencies and achieve progress in this regard.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I do. I am pleased to note that the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, has endorsed the recognition of the Croke Park agreement in yesterday's results, which were published today. Where the agreement is operational in the secondary sector, some 70% or so of teachers endorse the recognition of the Croke Park agreement as a de facto agreement on the ground.