David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and acknowledge the fact that he has conceded that four teaching posts will be lost. The figure is actually 4.6. That will have a significant impact on the ability of the college to provide its courses.

The Minister of State spoke about savings of ¤12 million in a full year and ¤4 million in 2013, which is not a huge amount of money in the general budget. It is disingenuous to say that to amend this decision would mean introducing additional budget measures in education. The Government has, of course, the ability to raise taxes on higher earners or to achieve savings elsewhere in the payroll. I could give the Minister of State any number of examples.

Given the small level of savings being made, it is neither economically sound nor right to achieve savings in this way. It will have the opposite effect of pushing people out of college. Whole classes will have to go because of this measure. It is not the right way to do things.