Forum 
DÁIL ÉIREANN

Sitting Time - 10:40
Sitting Date - 09/11/2011

Deputy Finian McGrath:  I wish to raise once again the issue of education and its importance to the Irish people.  It is also vital as a strategy for getting out of this economic mess and building a future of which we can all be proud.  I wish to seek clarification on a few matters.  Is it true the Taoiseach and his Government are planning to cut 2,200 teaching jobs over the next two years?  Why is a cap being placed on student numbers going into third level education?  Is that information accurate? Millions of euro are being spent on teacher training colleges, such as St. Patrick's in Drumcondra and Marino College.  They are upskilling student teachers but for what - emigration?  Where is the sense in this?  There is no point in talking about radical reform of our education system while slashing frontline services.  This is a total contradiction.  Even if the Government does not care about education, where is the sense in spending millions of euro on training teachers only to have them qualify with no jobs at all? How does the Taoiseach square that from educational and economic perspectives and where is the value for money?

Two weeks ago in the Dáil, I raised the issue of services for young adults in St. Michael's House and the Taoiseach asked me to supply him with the details, figures and costs.  I made my submission but have had no response thus far.  I ask the Taoiseach for a response today on this very important issue.

An Ceann Comhairle: One issue at a time.

The Taoiseach:  In respect of Deputy McGrath's last point, I received his correspondence and am acting on it.  There are a number of other inquiries about St. Michael's in general about which the Deputy may be aware and which need to be taken into account.  In respect of the young boy mentioned by the Deputy, I will let the Deputy know the outcome as soon as I hear about it.

No decisions have yet been made on the Department of Education and Skills or any other Department by the Government.  The student population is to increase by 10% for the foreseeable future.  That means trained staff will be required to teach them. Population growth, at 7.6% for the first quarter of this year, is the highest since 1960.  This means the Minister for Education and Skills must plan for the provision of school buildings for a clearly increasing number of students.

In the area Deputy Finian McGrath represents, a large number of apartments and housing estates were built but no schools were provided for the residents, with the result that enormous pressure has been put on the communities.  The Minister for Education and Skills is now focusing on the projections and will have to provide both buildings and staff for the pupils.  There is no decision made in respect of any of the other matters the Deputy raised.

An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Finian McGrath has one minute.

Deputy Finian McGrath: I thank the Taoiseach for his response but want to ask him a few more questions, on disadvantaged schools.  Does he really know and understand what is occurring in DEIS schools?  Yesterday, the Technical Group met representatives of the Teachers' Union of Ireland, and I have questions in that regard today.  Why is the Taoiseach targeting the less well off schools by comparison with the more advantaged ones?  For example, over €100 million is being spent on private schools.  Is it because the mindset of the Cabinet is informed by the fact that 40% of its members went to private schools?  Is that the real agenda?

An Ceann Comhairle: I ask the Deputy to put a supplementary question.

Deputy Finian McGrath: Many members of the public are saying that and want the answer to my question.

An Ceann Comhairle: Could we have a supplementary question, please?

Deputy Finian McGrath: Some 40% of the members of the Cabinet went to private schools.

Deputy Paul Kehoe: The Deputy should look at the people around him.

An Ceann Comhairle: I ask the Deputy to put his supplementary question.  He has exceeded his time.

Deputy Derek Keating: Hands up.

Deputy Finian McGrath: Is the Taoiseach aware of a recent INTO survey of principals in disadvantaged schools that shows 20 schools experienced 59 teacher losses?  In ten of these schools, 16 teachers were taken specifically from children with special needs.

Deputy Emmet Stagg: I have a point of order.

An Ceann Comhairle: There are no points or order on Leaders' Questions.

Deputy Finian McGrath: Is the Taoiseach aware that 22 teachers were taken from Traveller children in 18 schools and that-----

Deputy Emmet Stagg: We will circulate the script.

Deputy Finian McGrath: -----74% of principals report increases in the challenges facing these children?

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is over time.  We are dealing with supplementary questions.

Deputy Finian McGrath: Is the Taoiseach aware that 30% of these principals are now reporting-----

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: Two salaries, no responsibilities.

Deputy Finian McGrath: -----attendance issues following these cuts?  Some 45% report indiscipline in the schools.

An Ceann Comhairle: This is not Question Time; it is Leaders' Questions.

Deputy Finian McGrath: With respect, I asked the Taoiseach whether he is aware.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is over time.  He had one minute.

Deputy Finian McGrath: -----of what is going on in disadvantaged schools.  Why is the Labour Party turning its back on the poorer children?

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: Two salaries, no responsibilities and whinging all the time.

The Taoiseach: That was a good Second Stage speech.  He said a lot in the minute he was allocated.  Believe you me, I was happy to cycle to school myself many years ago.  I am not sure how one ascertains whether Members of the Dáil attended fee-paying schools.  I understand there are 56 fee-paying schools and that 25 of these are Protestant schools.  I am quite sure Deputy McGrath does not intend to attack those.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte: It all depends on whether there are any in his constituency.

The Taoiseach: It could be construed that he is doing so from what he said.  The Government needs to assist in every way it can where disadvantaged status applies.  Disadvantage was brought about by bad planning and incompetence in many cases. Huge housing estates were provided and no facilities were provided for the children therefrom.

I agree with the Deputy that education represents the gateway for everybody but there is always a difficult situation.  The Government has no intention whatsoever of applying its focus to the detriment of those in disadvantaged schools.  Rather, the opposite is the case in that the intention is to offer them all the help we can.  As the Deputy well knows, the sad fact is that the obscene waste of hundreds of billions of euro over recent years constrains any Government in doing the job the current Government knows it should be able to do.  We will obviously focus on this issue as best we can in the budget on 6 December.