asked the Minister for Education when she will approve the appointment of remedial teachers and improve pupil-teacher ratios in areas of disadvantage as outlined in the Fine Gael-Labour education programme.

In connection with the assignment of remedial teachers to national schools so as to alleviate problems of backwardness among pupils, due account is taken of the extent to which environmental factors contribute to these problems.

The question of an improvement in pupil-teacher ratios in disadvantaged areas will be kept under review and such appropriate action taken as available financial resources may permit.

I did not hear the Minister clearly. If remedial teachers are to be appointed as outlined in the Government's educational programme, when will they be appointed?

I indicated to the Deputy that the question will be kept under review and such appropriate action taken as available financial resources permit.

Am I correct in thinking that the Minister said recently she is having a rethink with regard to her previous decision not to appoint remedial teachers? Will the Minister confirm this?

The matter of remedial teachers in primary schools was mentioned in the statement of the previous Government on 18 November last in connection with the publication of the Estimates. With regard to remedial teachers in primary schools, the position remains unchanged following a decision of the present Government.

I want to take up this point with the Minister because on many occasions, in fact from the first day of her appointment as Minister ——

Will the Deputy please put a question?

Yes. I appreciate that my purpose here is to ask a question. It depends surely on the number of words I use to ask that question.

Just as long as the preamble is not too long.

I would not dream of engaging in any spurious preamble. It will be a pointed question directly to the Minister. I am here to avail of that opportunity. I called a special press conference of educational correspondents on the same afternoon Fianna Fáil produced their Estimates.

Will the Deputy please put his question? He may not make a speech at Question Time.

I am going to ask a question. I must be afforded that opportunity. The correspondents heard in full detail every aspect of the policies we were putting forward. I ask the Minister why she is using every occasion — this was done over the weekend also — to blame the previous administration for the situation. She knows this is totally inaccurate. I want her to answer that question now in the House. On many occasions she has sought to blame me for matters for which I am not responsible. I have not contradicted ——

If the Deputy has a question will he please put it to the Minister?

I am not clear as to the Deputy's question. Perhaps I might quote from the statement issued on 18 November 1982.

Some other measures will have to be taken to restrict current expenditure in 1983 to a level which can be met from available revenue. These will include a restriction to the larger schools of the appointment of remedial teachers in the case of national schools.

I appreciate that and the Minister knows it. I do not deny that statement which was given to the educational correspondents. At that stage no decision had been taken. Now the Minister is in government and she is responsible for educational policy. It is totally erroneous to blame Fianna Fáil continually as appeared in an editorial in The Irish Times on this matter. I hope it will finish at this stage.

In relation to the other part of my question on the pupil-teacher ratio, will the Minister take steps to improve the situation in national schools? How can she reconcile her statement about improving the situation at second level in areas of disadvantage when she has raised the pupil-teacher ratio to 20 to one in secondary schools and to 19 to one in the vocational sector? Will the Minister please answer that question.

The Deputy's question relates to national schools.

That is not correct. It relates to areas of disadvantage.

I have already answered the question. I think I shall have to repeat what I said. The question of an improvement in pupil-teacher ratios in disadvantaged areas will be kept under review and such appropriate action taken as available financial resources permit.

The Minister did not answer my question.

14.