No easy options and education cannot be sheltered from cuts, says Coughlan [IrishTimes]
- Published: 07 April 2010
MINISTER'S SPEECH: THE STATE will have less to spend on public services for the foreseeable future but there were “no easy options and no easy decisions” in working to safeguard the economy and the banking system, Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan told INTO delegates yesterday.
Amid some heckles and booing from a minority of delegates, Ms Coughlan said the Government viewed the proposed deal on public service reform and pay as a “reasonable basis to move forward”. But she had no intention of interfering with internal union debates on the issue.
The Minister acknowledged it was not possible to shelter education completely from any further spending cuts. “For me to do so would be dishonest, given that the bulk of public expenditure is accounted for by health, education and welfare.”
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