Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom aird a tharraingt ar chúrsaí oideachais arís. Tá iarratais ar an Cheannaire déanta agam le cúpla seachtain anuas ar dhá díospóireachtaí tábhachtacha faoi ghnéithe a bhaineann le chúrsaí oideachais, ach níl aon fhreagra díreach faighte agam go fóill. Tá mé chun na hiarratais sin a dhéanamh arís, an uair seo i mBéarla ar eagla na míthuiscine.

I call for two education debates that I have asked for in recent weeks. Rural schools are still in limbo in terms of the Government's proposed cuts to the one to four-teacher rural schools. At the weekend, a large crowd turned up at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to protest against the cuts. Schools have received no indication as to where they stand. The teachers who are lost to rural schools will be asked to go on panels, after which they will be out the door. We need an urgent debate on the issue with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. We also need to discuss with him Gaeltacht schools, which have been dealt a double whammy. In light of the capital allocations and the way in which the cuts are being implemented, it would appear that urban schools are being given preferential treatment over rural schools. We will not take that.

I asked for a debate on the issue of newly qualified teachers. Perhaps the Minister could take both debates in tandem. Following a presentation in Leinster House for all Deputies and Senators, Members from all parties agreed that the way in which newly qualified teachers were being treated was unfair. The new regime will be detrimental to them and will force them to emigrate. It is not good enough to educate young people to leave. We need a full, frank and honest debate. At the presentation, there appeared to be support from all sides of the House on what was deemed an unfair issue.