Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

It should be acknowledged that there are 4,000 more teachers than in 2002. That is progress and it cannot be denied.

The majority of the extra teachers hired in recent years have been targeted rightly at providing extra support for children with special needs, those from disadvantaged areas and those who need help with English. This is the way forward. That is my interpretation of how class size is being addressed. I hope the Minister will move to reduce class sizes because, ideally, the pupil-teacher ratio should come down further. Nobody would dispute that. That said, teachers are very professional and can do a superb job in the classroom. Whether they have 24 or 26 pupils, the majority of teachers are well able to carry the load and are very good at doing it.

Special needs is an area with which I am very familiar. There are more than 5,000 teachers at primary level dealing directly with children with special needs compared with 1,500 in 1998. We also have 8,200 special needs assistants compared with 300 in 1998. The sum of €50 million has been invested in school transport for pupils with special needs. There are 7,000 special resource teachers who can be accessed by those who need special attention in schools.

I welcome the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board. It must deal with children who have strayed from the educational pathway at some level. It was set up to work with schools and monitor children at risk. Breakfast mornings have been set up for those who are very much at risk and cannot get to school for whatever reason, especially in disadvantaged areas. Much work remains to be done.

I would like to see more emphasis on early intervention, especially at primary level. It is a benefit if problems are picked up when children are four, five or six. If the National Educational Welfare Board, the home-school-community liaison team, schools and educational psychologists can help children at an early stage, there will be less need for resource teachers at second level and more opportunities for those who are disadvantaged.

A great deal of progress has been made. I am delighted the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, is present to hear what we have to say. I accept more needs to be done but it cannot be done overnight. The Minister's heart is in the right place. I have great confidence she will get it right.