Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider his decision to cut a further €77 million from the education budget; and if he has considered alternatives measures to this further reduction to his Department's annual budget. [43114/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware of the very challenging economic environment that forms the backdrop to all decisions relating to the public finances. While the Government has undertaken to protect education spending as much as possible, we are not operating in a vacuum. Despite the fact that there have already been significant reductions in public expenditure, further expenditure consolidation is necessary if we are to regain our economic independence. I would like to be in a position of not having to make any further savings on the Education and Skills Vote and for those savings to be secured elsewhere. However, I must also accept that all Government Departments must play their part in reducing expenditure. Identifying and securing savings on my Department's Vote in 2013 will be extremely challenging. However, measures such as this are necessary if we are to secure the viability of our country and enable us to fund public services into the future in a sustainable manner.