The Education Minister is calling on resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to do more - saying their pay has not been cut.

Ruairi Quinn is also again insisting that a reduction in hours in resource teaching does not amount to a cut.

On Wednesday, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) announced a 10% cut in teaching hours for children with special needs from September because of an increase in demand. The decision means that from September students with special needs will have 15 minutes less teaching time.

The NCSE says a 10% increase in the number of children with special needs, means an adjustment of 25% on 2011 levels was necessary.

Opposition parties are calling for the move to be reversed, describing it as an attack on the most vulnerable in society.

While the INTO is organising a protest against the cuts. The Irish National Teachers Organisation is calling on parents and teachers to protest at Leinster House on Wednesday.

Minister Quinn insists that the budget and the number of SNAs and resource teachers has been ringfenced and it is an increase in population which is leading to the reduced hours.

And he is calling for staff involved to give more.