IPPN

Teachers back bar on 'cronyism' [independent.ie]

Published: 26 March 2009

By Katherine Donnelly

Thursday March 26 2009

PRIMARY teachers have welcomed new guidelines which they say rule out any possibility of "political cronyism" in cutbacks affecting English language support teachers, writes Katherine Donnelly.

The Department of Education and Science has issued a memo to schools setting out clear procedures for the appointment of the support teachers, whose numbers are being reduced.

The cuts will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs, mainly at primary level -- where most of the English language support, for pupils with limited English, is concentrated.

The overall number of full-time English language teaching support posts will drop from 2,000 to 1,400 and part-time positions will disappear.

Schools will be limited to two English language teachers, except in exceptional circumstances, for which the department has published criteria .

- Katherine Donnelly

Budget must protect children, says Barnardos [Irish Times]

Published: 25 March 2009

Source: Irish Times

KILIAN DOYLE

Barnardos has called on the Government to ensure vulnerable children and families are protected in next month's supplementary budget.

The charity said today that while it recognised the severity of the economic situation facing Ireland, the Government must ensure the 76,000 children living in consistent poverty are not targeted by increased taxes and cuts in vital supports and services.

"It is unacceptable that these children should pay for the economic downturn when they benefited so little from the Celtic Tiger," said chief executive Fergus Finlay.

Mr Finlay said any tax increases should predominantly target those on higher incomes.

Barnardos said child benefit should not be taxed or only taxed if the savings generated are directed into the Qualified Child Allowance.

The charity also said any savings made from cuts to the Early Childcare Supplement should be ringfenced to fund a quality half day pre-school place for every child during the year prior to joining primary school.

On the proposed cuts in spending on education, Mr Finlay said it was "unacceptable that the supports which help vulnerable children stay in school and get an education are being whittled away".

He warned that short-term cuts in education spending would have "very serious long-term repercussions for both children and Ireland".

School bus charge to be doubled for 55,000 children [independent.ie]

Published: 24 March 2009

Source: independent.ie

By Michael Brennan

Tuesday March 24 2009

SCHOOL bus fees are set to double for secondary school pupils despite growing protests from parents.

Fees for junior certificate students will rise from €112 to €300, and leaving certificate students' school bus fees will rise from €156 to €300, the Irish Independent has learned.

The increases will come into force for 55,000 students in September.

Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said the changes went "below the radar" in last year's Budget, but were beginning to hit home.

"It's a real education stealth tax that's come in by the back door," he said.

Junior Education Minister Sean Haughey said the hikes were necessary, and the maximum payment per family would be €650.

But Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins said many parents would find it difficult to pay the increased fees.

- Michael Brennan

O'Keeffe battling finance bosses on student fees format [independent.ie]

Published: 24 March 2009

Source: independent.ie

By John Walshe Education Editor

A FURIOUS behind-the-scenes battle is raging over the exact form of 'contribution' students will have to pay from next year for their college education.

The Department of Finance is understood to be pressing for the straightforward return of tuition fees.

But Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe prefers a graduate payment scheme which would see students repay their fees once their earnings exceed a certain threshold.

From a budgetary point of view, the early return of fees would ease the pressure on the Exchequer, depending on the income threshold above which they would have to be paid.

But politically such a move would lead to a storm of protest from students, and would further alienate the middle classes who benefited from the abolition of college fees in 1996.

A scheme related to the income of graduates is emerging as a more politically acceptable model.

The most popular option is based on a model used in Australia, which allows students to pay the fees up front if they wish or start to pay them back with interest once they reach a certain income level.

The academic who pioneered the model, Bruce Chapman, briefed Irish officials earlier this year.

If this option is chosen it would effectively take several years for the cash-strapped Exchequer to make any significant returns.

Mr O'Keeffe will present a series of options to his Cabinet colleagues within the next 10 days before putting forward his own recommendation.

The Union of Students in Ireland, Labour and Sinn Fein have all vowed to strongly oppose the return of fees.

Fine Gael says it is also opposed to them, but it favours students repaying 30pc of the cost of their course when they graduate and reach a certain income.

USI President Shane Kelly last night said what was being proposed would have serious knock-on effects on third level education and on the economy.

"Students would leave in their thousands to get their education in the UK," he said, pointing out that already this year there was a 13pc increase in applications from the State to UK universities.

- John Walshe Education Editor