Sraith Nua do dhaltaí atá ag réiteach do Bhéaltriail na Gaeilge
February 23, 2012
School funds cut to pay for U-turn by Quinn
February 23, 2012
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has been accused of robbing Peter to pay Paul after cutting budgets for all primary schools in order to fund a U-turn on teacher cuts in the most disadvantaged schools.
He bowed to pressure for a U-turn on one of the most harshly criticised Budget 2012 cutbacks by allowing over 130 disadvantaged primary schools to keep 235 extra teachers.
However, every primary school in the country will have a smaller budget this year in order to fund the €2.8m reversal.
It will mean no cuts to urban primary schools in his department’s Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (Deis) programme.
The change gives a full reprieve to 25 schools due to have lost at least three teachers they kept from disadvantage schemes before Deis was set up in 2005. A Department of Education review found that another 107 would have lost up to two teachers from pre-Deis schemes.
However, the axe will still fall on the remainder of the 428 posts which were due to have been cut at 33 primary and 163 second-level schools.
The minister had already signalled that any U-turn would be funded from elsewhere in the schools’ budget, and he is bringing forward the phased cut in capitation funding for all 3,200 primary schools. Instead of a 2% cut this year and a similar reduction next year, a 3.5% cut is being imposed in 2012.
This will see the rate payable for running costs cut further, from €183 for every pupil to €178. It means an additional cut of €750 to the already over €1,000 being withdrawn from the annual budget of an average 150-pupil primary school.
The Irish Primary Principals Network called it a “zero-sum game”, claiming another cut would leave many schools unable to pay for basics like lighting and heating. “This comes as hard-pressed families, many of them hit by job losses, are struggling to make voluntary contributions to help cover schools’ running costs,” said IPPN director Seán Cottrell.
A Department of Education spokesperson said 92% of the €3.08bn primary school budget goes on pay and pensions and 6% on capitation grants, so there was limited scope for alternative savings.
Mr Quinn admitted making a mistake in the budget and said he was reversing the cuts in some disadvantaged schools after analysing the likely impact. In a further concession to the most disadvantaged primary schools, they will be given additional learning support staff to help pupils in reading and maths.
The minister has also made allowances for small primary schools due to lose a teacher in September if they can show they would have increased pupil numbers. The department found that 73 schools were due to have been affected by staffing changes for schools with five teachers or less.
Only a few are likely to benefit from the widened appeal system but the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation welcomed the move. It said it would have been nonsense for schools to lose a teacher this year, only to regain it next year.
IRISH EXAMINER
Múinteoirí san Uisce
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Áiseanna Gaeilge ar iTunes
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A Rá ar an Raidió
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Máirt na hInide i Scoil Aonghusa, Droichead Átha.
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Rás UCD 2012-Dé Sathairn 25 Feabhra 12pm, Rith 5K ar Champus Belfield
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Win €1000 worth of Books for your School Library!
February 21, 2012
Details here – World Book Day Competition
Seimineáir Inseirbhíse ar Fhorbairt na Matamaitice sa Chóras Tumoideachais
February 21, 2012
Controversy over new school plan
February 21, 2012
Sir, –
In north Kildare, the decision by the parents of more than 1,600 students attending Gaelscoileanna, that their children should continue their education through the medium of Irish, has been dismissed by the Department of Education.
The founding committee or an Coiste Bunaithe has applied twice to the Department of Education in the last five years to establish a Gaelcholáiste or Irish medium secondary school. The application has been rejected on both occasions.
On announcing plans to build a new school in Maynooth in June 2012, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said the criteria used in deciding on patronage would place a particular emphasis on: “parental demand for plurality and diversity”.
“Parental preferences should be at the centre of considerations about the type of school to be recognised.” Expressions of interest in the new school by patronage bodies was accepted by the department up until February 17th, 2012 and the closing date for applications is February 24th.
An Foras Pátrúnachta submitted an expression of interest on behalf of the parents to the department before the due date.
Expressions of interest currently posted on the department website consist of Co Kildare VEC and the Loreto Education Trust.
The reason given by the department for the exclusion of An Foras application for a Gaelcholáiste was that a third application would confuse the people of north Kildare.
The parents of children attending Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth, Scoil Uí Dhálaigh, Leixlip, Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock and Gaelscoil na nÓg, Dunboyne are furious that their wish to have their children continue their education through the medium of Irish should be dismissed in such an unjust manner.
We demand that the Minister for Education explain why the department is so dismissive of parental rights and why is he opposed to a Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth.
– Is mise,
COLM Ó CEARÚIL,
Oifigeach Caidrimh Phoiblí,
An Coiste Bunaithe,
Gael-Choláiste,
Chill Dara Thuaidh,
Maigh Nuad,
Co Chill Dara.
IRISH TIMES
