Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

—commends the Government on the significant additional resources provided since 1997 for the education system generally and for the education of disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs in particular;

—recognises that there are over 5,000 more teachers in our primary schools than there were in 1997;

—acknowledges that these extra teaching resources have been used to reduce class sizes, to tackle educational disadvantage, to provide additional support for children with special needs and newcomers to this country;

—acknowledges the significant increase in the number of teacher training places provided in the colleges of education and the resultant drop in the numbers of unqualified teachers in our primary schools;

—aithnítear an soláthar atá déanta ag an Rialtas tríd an gcóras oideachais chun cúrsaí na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn;

—notes that the Government is committed to further reducing class sizes through the implementation of reduced staffing schedules for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years; and

—notes the significant additional resources being provided to cater for pupils in disadvantaged areas through delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, — the first integrated strategy for promoting equality of opportunity for 3-18 year olds.''

I welcome Senator O'Toole's motion, as well as his invitation to Government Members to embrace it as part of a composite motion along with our amendment. Regrettably, from the perspective of Members on this side of the House this is impossible, given the unjustifiable criticisms which he levelled and articulated in his motion.