Protect education, stop the handover \u2013 Crowe<\/p>\n
The Sinn F\u00e9in spokesperson on education, Se\u00e1n Crowe TD has today called on the government to \u201cprotect education and stop the handover of taxpayers\u2019 money to the bondholders\u201d.<\/p>\n
Deputy Crowe called on all those who are opposed to education cuts to make their voices heard and tell the government to stop the payment of \u20ac700 million to an unsecured senior bondholder in Anglo Irish Bank on November 2.<\/p>\n
Speaking from Leinster House Deputy Crowe said:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is nothing short of a scandal that cuts to the education system are taking place at a time when the government continues to hand over billions of taxpayers\u2019 money to unguaranteed, unsecured senior bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn just over a week on November 2 the government will hand over \u20ac700 million of the peoples\u2019 money to one such bondholder in Anglo Irish.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeanwhile our education system is buckling under the pressure of cuts. Over 200 Special Needs Assistants have been axed, students have had their grant slashed, parents are struggling to cope with rising costs of going to school and our school buildings are still in crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe loss of SNAs means some of our most vulnerable children are being denied the opportunity to fulfil their potential at school. By taking away such essential support within the classroom setting, children with learning and physical difficulties are finding it impossible to cope and the concept of intergrating children into mainstream education is being badly undermined.\u00a0 Clearly, our education system is failing our young people who are in most need of help and support.
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\u201cInstead of paying off unnamed bondholders the government could and should be using the \u20ac700 million to protect the education system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this money the government could:
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Build 100 schools at a cost of \u20ac300 million and refurbish 75 more at a cost of \u20ac50 million in the next three years
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fund a central book-buying scheme for all school children at a cost of \u20ac60 million
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reverse changes to the non-adjacent rate of grant which has impacted on 25,000 students and their families at a cost of \u20ac43 million
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Return the over 200 SNAs cut in the last budget at a cost of \u20ac6 million<\/p>\n
\u201cClearly there are alternatives. We can protect our education system if the political will exists. Handing over this money to the bondholders is a political choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe in Sinn F\u00e9in are calling on the government to \u2018Stop the Handover\u2019 and we are asking people to join us in this campaign. We are asking people to lobby their local TDs and ask them to protect frontline education services. We also have a petition which we are asking people to sign.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople power can stop this handover. Make your voices heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
ENDS<\/p>\n