Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The position is that one has to set priorities. I have clearly set priorities to get teachers back into the classroom. In September 2016 and 2017 I provided 5,000 extra teachers, plus 2,000 special needs assistants, SNAs. For the coming September I have added another 1,280 teachers and a further 1,000 SNAs. We are providing for 1,400 extra apprenticeships, 1,400 extra traineeships, 1,000 extra places on the Springboard programme and a demographic expansion of 2,000 higher education places. We are expanding substantially in all areas of priority, but, unfortunately, we have not been able to provide additional support for student grants, other than for postgraduate students, including those taking the masters of education programme, where those on low incomes receive additional support. It is an arena in which even the Senator would probably criticise the budget for not doing enough. We have a budget this year of €10 billion. It is the first time we have reached that amount, but even then, it is stretched to meet what are a lot of justifiable calls made on it. That is the difficulty. Each year I will review all of the calls made and look to see which ones can be funded from year to year. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet what I was asked to do within the resources outlined yesterday.