Minister’s decision to review funding cut to DEIS schools highlights unfairness of budget
 
Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe believes the Government’s last minute decision to review cuts to disadvantaged school shows how unjustified December’s Budget cuts were.
 
Deputy Crowe made his comments after speaking on a Sinn Féin Private Members’ Motion that called on the Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to reverse budget cuts to education.
 
Deputy Crowe said: “While welcoming the review announced last night by the minister into his decision to cut up to 428 teaching posts from disadvantaged schools it is clear that this should have been carried out before December’s budget. If the minister had done his homework before the budget we wouldn’t be in this mess.
 
“The relentless cuts being imposed on schools that are vitally important in tackling educational disadvantage is nothing short of a national scandal. These cuts follow on from cuts to Special Needs Assistants, Language Support Teachers and Resource Teachers for Travellers.
 
“The government seems committed to implementing policies that make it harder for children and young people who need additional assistance to succeed at school. It makes a mockery of the minister’s public commitment to improve literacy and numeracy standards and will undermine the progress that has been made in this area.
 
“Now that the minister has agreed to review cuts that should never have been proposed in the first place, he needs to ring-fence funding for children with special needs and disadvantaged schools.
 
“The opposition to this cut was reflected in the large protests of teachers, parents and students at the Dáil and I wish to commend everyone who mobilised and lobbied the government on this issue. The motion Sinn Féin put before the Dáil under Private Members’ Business is part of our commitment to try and get Minster Quinn to reverse his unjust budget cuts.
 
“Pressure from parents, schools and educationalists needs to be stepped up in the coming weeks and months if we are to overturn this disastrous and unfair budget.”