Budget row leaves bitter taste
- Published: 04 November 2008
Tue, Nov 04, 2008
TEACHER'S PET:The Government may have survived . . . but the bad feeling over those Budget cuts in education still lingers.
The key relationship between Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe (below) and INTO boss John Carr has an icy chill. Carr was furious over that unexpected increase in class size. When the Minister accused him of "scaremongering" last week, it added insult to injury.
There is also a new frissonin the relationship between the Department and several key interest groups.
Many among the teacher unions and school management bodies were dismayed by mean-spirited nature of the cuts - and the lack of knowledge they betrayed of school life. Many had assumed that there were working in partnershipwith the Department - but the Budget row has exposed the limits of this partnership.
The cuts were presented as a fait accomplito the entire education sector, with only lip-service paid to the notion of consultation.
But, with the Government safe, Batt is digging in on the cuts.
He has also decided that attack is the best form of defence. His lively Dáil speech last week had a series of good humoured barbs directed at his various detractors. At this stage, it is difficult to see him giving ground on class size. Whisper it . . . but it may be that the INTO has already lost that battle.
• Who were the big winners in the Budget education battle?
INTO president Declan Kelleher emerged on the national stage as a figure of some substance. And Ferdia Kelly from the JMB, representing school mangers, was also impressive.
But, strangely, the big winner was Batt O'Keeffe who held his nerve while all those around him in Cabinet were yielding ground. On RTE's Prime Time, Batt managed to be combative - without losing his affability.
O'Keeffe and his clever communications director Bernard Mallee make a formidable team. And both appear to be relishing the battle.
• Is Fine Gael's Brian Hayes a secret rock and roll fan?
In a press release last Thursday, he labelled the Green's Paul Gogarty as "a rebel without a clue".
It was another memorable Hayes soundbite. But this great line was lifted from the Tom Petty classic Into the Great Wide Open.
© 2008 The Irish Times
