I wish to revisit the second focus of Deputy Kenny's question earlier. Did the Taoiseach discuss with the Minister for Education and Science or did the Cabinet discuss and approve the latest Government cutbacks in respect of 300 concessionary teaching posts at second level education? Does the Taoiseach not recognise that, irrespective of his response earlier, what we are looking at here is the closing off of access to teaching positions in second level education from the autumn? Is it not hypocrisy on the Government's part, having only recently boasted that it was committed to ensuring fair access to education at all levels, that we now see the axing of teaching posts at second level education? Is the Taoiseach aware that a number of these posts are used to ensure that the needs of young people with special needs are met—

That is not true.

—and that the consequence of the cuts now announced will be a further enlargement of class sizes and the closing off of subject options for children in a number of schools in different parts of the jurisdiction?

I do not want to go back over the issue again but to reply to the Deputy, I have given the figure. This is a matter that is dealt with by the managements and principals of schools in their overall positions. The fact is that the number of teachers in the second level system will be increased for the next academic year. The number of pupils is way down and the pupil-teacher ratio is now down to 13.6:1. The Deputy is incorrect to try to link this with the issue of disabilities. He knows that area is dealt with in first level where we are now spending €350 million on education for students with disabilities, but that is a separate issue. School managements have to deal with the position. They have more teachers, fewer pupils and a lower pupil-teacher ratio.

The Taoiseach does not want to revisit the question because he did not respond to it in the first instance.

The Deputy does not want to hear the facts.

Deputy Ó Caoláin has only one minute.

No. The reality is that we are talking about the concessionary posts and there is, undeniably, a reduction in the commitment to the provision of concessionary posts from the autumn. That is the inescapable fact, irrespective of the statistics the Taoiseach will quote on teacher numbers at any level throughout this jurisdiction.

They are not just statistics; they are realities.

The fact is that the Taoiseach has now authored yet another cutback, and that will have significant consequences because there is an important reliance on the role of the concessionary teachers in the second level system. In the programme for Government which Fianna Fáil and its Progressive Democrats colleagues presented before the last general election, they gave a commitment to assist schools in areas of significant disadvantage to recruit and retain teachers. The reality is that this announcement will see the loss of concessionary teacher input in a number of schools throughout the country.

The Deputy's time has concluded.

Has the Taoiseach given any consideration to the consequences of this decision for schools in areas of disadvantage?

Deputy Ó Caoláin's questions are always treated exceptionally well, as I know from experience. If the idea is that we should keep the number of concessionary teachers at exactly their current level and at the same time employ more teachers overall when there are fewer pupils and a lower pupil-teacher ratio, it is ridiculous. The Deputy wants to give me facts, but the fact is that the number of teachers on the payroll next year will increase from 25,307 to 25,597.

We are talking about concessionary teachers, not payrolls.

I have already given the figure for concessionary teachers.

He does not want to hear it.

The Deputy wants to keep concessionary teachers when there are more teachers, fewer pupils and a lower pupil-teacher ratio.

Yes, the—

The Deputy wants Santa Claus morning, noon and night.

I ask Deputy Ó Caoláin to remain silent and allow the Taoiseach to reply.

The number of teachers in the second level system will increase in the next academic year, there will be fewer pupils, the pupil-teacher ratio will be down to under 14:1 and over the past few years we have had 1,200 additional teachers. As a result, the number of concessionary teachers will decrease from 871 to 699, which is a difference of 172 by my calculations, not 600.

Some 1,000 positions were open.

They have been made permanent. The Deputy should check out the matter.

I will do so. The Minister for Finance has taken over the Department of Health and Children in addition to the Department of Education and Science.

I ask Deputy Ó Caoláin to remain silent. The leader of a party cannot ride roughshod over Standing Orders and, like everyone else, must obey them.

I think I have answered the Deputy's question. I hope he will acknowledge the true figures.