IPPN

Published: 15 October 2008

Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release

'Soft option' education cutbacks attack economic recovery and frontline services - Hayes

Today's Budget cutbacks in Education are 'soft option' politics that will make a bad situation worse by causing more overcrowded classrooms and harming frontline services while at the same time critically damaging Ireland's ability to economically recover according to Fine Gael Education Spokesman, Brian Hayes TD.

Deputy Hayes said that Education has effectively suffered a cutback with the increase in current spending of 2.7%, half the rate of inflation which stands at 4.5%

"Leadership was needed today but instead we received cowardly 'soft option' politics from Batt O'Keeffe and Brian Lenihan.

"Investment in education is a key requisite in Ireland's ability to economically recover and, by cutting back on already strained resources, the Fianna Fáil Government has endangered future prosperity. Ireland is already playing catch-up in terms of education investment and frontline services are stretched to breaking point. Today, a bad situation was made worse with:

- An effective cutback in current spending with the 2.7% increase in current spending half the rate of rising prices with inflation at 4.5%;
- Bigger classrooms: The Government has restricted the amount of substitute teachers that can be hired and has increased the staffing schedule by one point. Ireland was already heading toward having the most overcrowded classrooms in Europe, now classrooms will be even more overcrowded;
- College fees by the backdoor. Registration fee for third level up to €1,500.

"Last week, Fine Gael outlined 'tough but fair' Budget proposals that would see frontline services protected and the groundwork laid for economic recovery. Tough decisions had to be made but these should not have put at risk future prosperity nor replicated the mistakes made in the past by Fianna Fáil Governments. Instead of following the Fine Gael plan, Fianna Fáil have made a bad situation worse by harming frontline services and not protecting future prosperity.

"Batt O'Keeffe has failed at the Cabinet table and must now:

1. Immediately declare what parts of the Programme for Government (PfG) have been cancelled. The PfG is dead we need a new programme to see the priorities for the next three yrs;
2. Outline what can be achieved over next 18 months in terms of education spending;
3. Absolutely safeguard existing frontline services.

"The 'Yes Man' in the Cabinet, Batt O'Keeffe, has already run from public scrutiny by refusing to hold a press conference. Instead of continuing to hide, he must address the Dáil immediately to outline just how these cutbacks will affect education."

..................................................................
Leinster House Contact: Brian Hayes TD
Dublin 2 Mike Miley Education & Science
Ireland (01) 618 4254
ends