Protests and insults over school cuts
February 3, 2012
Protests were held outside the Dáil and insults were hurled within it last night over the Government cuts to small schools.
More than 100 protesters gathered outside Leinster House urging Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to reverse the staffing cutbacks.
Inside the Dáil, meanwhile, Government and opposition TDs frequently clashed during the conclusion of the debate on a Fianna Fáil motion condemning the cuts.
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae labelled the minister a disgrace and called on Government TDs to oppose the cuts.
That led to a particularly heated clash with his constituency rival in Kerry South, Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin, who insisted he was already doing his utmost to protect local schools.
Other Government TDs criticised Fianna Fáil for moving the motion, saying it was hypocritical from a party which had presided over the economic collapse which led to the cutbacks.
Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins reacted furiously to suggestions that his party had “no mandate” to raise the issue, accusing the Government of wanting to foster a “dictatorship”.
He claimed the coalition had an “anti-rural” agenda, as small schools were mostly rural-based.
Another Fianna Fáil TD, Dara Calleary, said the cuts would place the future existence of small schools, scoileanna Gaeilge, and schools of minority faiths in danger.
Minister of state Ciarán Cannon, responding on behalf of Mr Quinn, said it was scare-mongering to suggest schools would close.
The only issue, he said, was that their teacher numbers would not be “as advantageous” as they had been.
