Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am thankful for the opportunity of participating in this important debate on the need to support and develop education on the northside of Dublin. Tonight, I stand up for education and for teachers, pupils and parents who know and understand the importance of education. I challenge the enemies of education and put on record some of the misinformation from politicians and media commentators. I am a proud member of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, INTO, and have been for many years. I have always put education, pupils and teachers first. That is who I am and from where I come.

In addition to standing up for education in the broad sense, I particularly stand up for the schools in my area which do great work against the odds. I strongly support Scoil Mhuire, Marino, Ardscoil Rís, Marino, St. Vincent de Paul infant school, Marino, St. Paul's College, Raheny, St. Mary's Holy Faith, Killester and Belgrove national school, Clontarf, which urgently needs a new building. These schools along with Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont, need support and some will shortly lose teachers. It represents blatant misinformation to suggest these schools accept the cuts, especially when other methods of funding were tabled as an alternative to the backward step represented by cuts. Cutbacks on the current and capital side will further depress economic activity, and borrowing money may stimulate the economy and create jobs.

The facts are as follows. The dirty dozen cuts will increase class sizes in primary schools, remove substitute cover for teachers, increase school transport charges, cause the axing of English language teachers, reduce funding to special needs children, slash Traveller education funding, cut teacher numbers by at least 1,000, eliminate the free books scheme, stop books for school libraries, halt the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, cut funding for computers in primary schools and cut funding for primary school buildings by 5%. This is the reality for teachers, for parents and for young pupils in large classes. The INTO said the admission by the Minister for Education and Science that 1,100 teachers would be taken out of the system was long overdue but welcome. I commend John Carr, general secretary of the INTO, on the work he has put into this campaign. The fact of the matter is that if pupil numbers remain the same, 1,100 teachers will be axed. However, this is not about teachers but about children and education. The Minister will enrol thousands of pupils, but employing 200 fewer teachers for Ireland's already packed classes will result in even more overcrowding. The INTO said that more than 2,000 additional primary teachers were needed to bring numbers up to the EU average. Instead, 1,000 teaching posts are being cut. These are the facts. Let us deal with them.

I also urge common sense in this urgent matter for the future of our country. I urge teachers, parents, pupils and all those who care about education to unite in this important battle for social justice. We should not let them divide us on education. Education is the way forward in this country and it is also the way out of the current economic crisis. It is time to be brave and it is time for leadership and vision in the education debate. We must ignore those who use petty arguments to undermine our efforts.

It is scandalous that on the north side of Dublin, pupils cannot get into their local secondary schools because of lack of places. We all have a duty to support these families and pupils. Any state or society that does not look after its citizens and respect their right to an education loses the respect and confidence of its people. We have all witnessed that in recent weeks. Tonight I stand by these people as an Independent Deputy for Dublin North-Central. Hammering our children in large classes and hammering our disabled and senior citizens should never be an option in an economic downturn. I urge the Minister to think again. I urge him to get rid of the macho image, supported by some right-wing commentators and politicians, of trying to defeat the teachers' unions, parents and students. It is time for common sense. I urge the Minister to listen to sensible voices in Irish education. I will continue to fight for education in Marino, Fairview, Drumcondra, Clontarf, Coolock, Santry, Raheny, Beaumont, Donnycarney, Edenmore and Killester. I will also continue to push for high quality educational services nationally as I believe education is a right for all of our citizens.

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