Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I thank Senator Norris for sharing his time. I welcome the opportunity to debate this motion on the impact of these severe cutbacks on children with disabilities. I echo the views of Senator Norris that these cuts will hurt the old, the sick and the handicapped, but the focus tonight is on their impact on children.

I have come from a demonstration outside this House, which other Members also attended, at which thousands of angry parents, teachers and children were present. It was called by the INTO, the ASTI and other unions. It was clear to anyone who was out there in the pouring rain that there was palpable anger at the serious impact these proposed cutbacks would have on all children, and in particular on vulnerable children. The focus of tonight's motion is very important.

Buried in the Minister's self-congratulatory speech was the acknowledgement that the implementation of the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and the Disability Act 2005 will be deferred beyond 2010. The acknowledgement that class sizes will be increased was also buried in the speech, which will have a severe impact on the education of all children at primary level, particularly those with special needs or disabilities.

We will also see severe cutbacks impacting on children who require language support, of whom there are many in the education system, and on Traveller children as special supports for them have been cut. Children will suffer, parents and teachers will struggle to cope, and class sizes will rocket beyond the OECD average. They are already high enough. There was a commitment in the Government's programme to reduce them. There was a particular commitment by the Green Party to reduce class sizes, and instead we will see them increase, with a consequent impact on children and parents.

There is a need to focus on the role of the junior coalition partner, the Green Party. It came into office with a commitment to making education a key political priority. There is a question as to how the Minister of State's party, and the Green Party, can sit by while class sizes increase, there is a severe impact on the most vulnerable children in our society, and parents and teachers are outside the doors of Leinster House seeking for their voices to be heard. I ask the Minister of State to consider reversing these cutbacks. The money should come from other sources. There are other resources available, and other suggestions have been made. A tax on the super-rich is an idea that should be taken on board.