O'Keeffe hits out at union 'scare tactics'
- Published: 22 November 2008
Source : Irish Independent
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has again attacked the emotive language used by union leaders over the impact cuts could have on schools.
He stressed that his criticism was directed at union leaders, not individual teachers.
"I want to make it clear that I consider our teachers hard-working and committed members of the public service," he said. "I did not call teachers scaremongers -- rather some union leaders who claim to represent their interests."
He also rejected "opportunistic politicking" by Sinn Fein, and called on the party to work with him in meeting the challenges for the education sector in these difficult economic times.
Sinn Fein released details of a survey of 110 Dublin primary schools which showed that 25 schools will lose language support teachers.
In all, 74 schools will have a class with 30 pupils or more, and 13 schools will have classes with more than 35 pupils.
