Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the integrated model of education, so enthusiastically supported by teachers and parents, is in extreme danger due to the combination of large class sizes, a 15% cut in resource teaching hours, the withdrawal of resource teachers for Travellers and the reduction in language support teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29514/14]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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One of the groups that has suffered the most and has experienced the greatest level of anxiety is people with special needs and their families. While the National Council for Special Education has produced a review regarding the allocation of resources, the unions, particularly the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, INTO, have indicated grave concern and said that without reversing the previous cuts of 15% in resource posts and the moratorium on posts of responsibility, even the positive elements included in this may not be able adequately to provide for special needs and protect the integrated education model, which is important for all primary school children.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I fully recognise the importance of the integrated model of education to which the Deputy referred, and I do not accept the assertion that this model is under threat. The Government's focus in recent years has been on operating a budgetary programme that is designed to restore our finances to a sustainable basis. Although education has been better sheltered than other sectors, it cannot be completely exempt from the budgetary programme. The Government's approach has helped Ireland to return to a position in which we are seeing some economic growth. A continuing improvement in our economic growth will enable us to move to a point at which we can again consider providing for additional teacher resources in schools, which could bring about an improvement in pupil-teacher ratio, class size and support for classroom teachers.

The main priority for any additional resources for the foreseeable future will be to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system. By 2017 we will have approximately 75,000 more young people in our system. We are also working hard to continue to preserve the integrated model of education, which we value very much and which has been at the heart of Irish education for a number of years.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I do not know if it is a circle which can be squared to say on the one hand that we had no choice but to make these cuts and on the other that we will protect the integrated model of education. Let us be clear that the integrated model of education is of critical importance for vulnerable students, including students with special needs, Travellers, and primary schoolchildren with language needs, as well as for the whole education system. The 15% cuts in resource teachers and the removal of language support teachers and support teachers for Traveller children have created serious pressure, added to which is the fact that 10,000 extra children are going into primary school every year. It poses very serious questions about whether that model can in fact be protected. Indeed, it would be useful if the Minister of State could provide a guarantee that there will be no further education cuts affecting the primary school sector and special needs supports in the coming budget. NERI said recently that these education cuts, particularly in primary education, were the most damaging socially and as regards the long-term economic future of our country. Can we get assurances in that regard?

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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At a time of severe economic challenge, the level of resources devoted to supporting children with special educational needs has been maintained with increases in certain areas for the next school year. This is in response to the demographic growth to which the Deputy referred and the increased demand despite the ongoing and severe financial position. There will be more than 11,000 resource teaching and learning support posts available to schools for the 2014-2015 school year which is the highest number of posts that has ever been made available. The number of resource teaching posts to the NCSE for allocation to schools has increased from 5,745 last year to 6,225 next year. I ask the Deputy to bear in mind also that the number of SNAs within our schools at the end of the year will be the highest ever. We spend just over €1.3 billion per annum on special needs education within the Department, which is greater than the whole budget for An Garda Síochána, our police force. We are working hard and as best we can within difficult economic circumstances to protect and nurture the integrated model of education to which the Deputy refers.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The thing about fiscal restraint is that one can cut off one's nose to spite one's face. There is no more important example of that than in the area of education, particularly primary education. Providing the necessary resources for primary school children, particularly those who are vulnerable is vital for them and for the long-term economic future of the country. If one cuts off one's nose now, one will spite one's face in the future. We have the second-largest class sizes in Europe and have had substantial cuts in this area. I have not heard from the Minister of State an assurance that there will not be further cuts that will affect the primary school sector and special needs in the future budget. If the Minister of State could even provide commitments on that level, it would assure teachers and parents who are anxious about the detrimental impact of these sorts of cuts.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I wonder sometimes if Deputy Boyd Barrett comes to the Chamber with a particular message to disseminate, chooses not to listen to the responses he receives and then repeats what he has said over and over again notwithstanding assurances given. By the end of this year, we will have the highest number of SNAs ever employed in place in our schools to support children with special needs.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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There are 10,000 more kids coming and the largest class sizes in Europe.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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We already have 480 extra resource teachers in place this year, with a further 480 resource teachers being put in place for next year. We are working exceptionally hard with the resources available to us to protect special needs children, nurture them and ensure they receive the best possible educational opportunities and achieve to the fullest of their potential. We have done that in light of the harsh winds of recession and will continue to do it. It has been a priority of the Government and, in particular, of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, since he first assumed office to protect that investment and to protect those children within our school system. We will continue to do that, which is the commitment the Deputy asked for and the commitment I am giving him.