Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I cannot respond to that point of order which has left me somewhat taken aback.

Senator Darragh O'Brien claimed that the Government is not putting children first in this country. In fact, the reason we had a referendum on children's rights is that this Government is determined to put children first. I was not going to comment on the Senator's suggestion as to what the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, might say today. I should point out, however, that the provision for resource teachers and special needs assistants for the coming school year will remain at the same level as this year.