Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

There was a real opportunity in this Bill for greater democracy in education. If we were starting out with a blank sheet of paper today what system would the Minister of State put in place to serve the educational needs of the country? It would not necessarily be the VEC system but it has one cornerstone which is critical to education and is missing in a lot of other areas of the education system and the service that is delivered, that is, democracy. There should be a democratic education system which is not beholden to parents, patrons or teachers but which is accountable democratically.

There was a real opportunity to deal with many of the ills of education in this Bill and put in place a real democratic structure which would provide for diversity in education and be accountable. It would deal with the kind of issue to which I referred. Something sneaked in under the carpet to facilitate paying, from the public purse, unqualified and retired teachers in receipt of a pension who are taking jobs from young people who are signing on. It is absurd and I ask the Minister of State to go back to the drawing board, withdraw the section and provide a regional structure whereby teachers can be contacted on Monday or Tuesday morning at an early hour to inform them that a teacher is needed in Clondrohid national school or wherever else and that service can be delivered locally.

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