Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

One teacher in a school in my area told me that since DEIS was introduced the school's standardised test results in numeracy and literacy have improved. Her students have flourished emotionally, socially and academically, attendance has vastly improved and parents are very much involved in their children's education. The Minister, through these cuts, will remove 428 teachers from the system. It is a crude cut attacking the most vulnerable students. The Minister should row back on this. The Minister will know what is coming to him when these cuts feed through to the different schools. Parents and children will be hurt by these cuts. It is crucial the Minister goes back to the drawing board, looks again at this and changes his mind.

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