Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I commend Deputy Smith and his colleagues on moving this motion. It is becoming increasingly evident that the Government is hitting the wrong people. We had another debate on education last week. Again the wrong people were being hit. The cut in career guidance counsellors will damage the roots of our educational system.

The 1998 Act provided students with choices and access to guidance counsellors. I am aware, having children who attended secondary school, that the guidance counsellor was the person to ask to meet a family. He or she is sufficiently removed from the classroom to observe student behaviour in a holistic way and can reach wise decisions in conjunction with other teachers and principals.

Will students be forced to choose between subjects and guidance counsellors? Private guidance counsellors will be available to those who can pay. The same applies in respect of grinds. The Minister admitted last week that he was out of touch. He could be guided back to touch by the qualified teachers who sit on his back benches and go after the poor or lazy teachers who mean that students are forced to take grinds which cost a fortune. He is going after the wrong people. What is going to happen to the students who suffer from disabilities? They will be completely cast aside.

There are a number of excellent schools in my constituency. St. Oliver's in Clonmel is not a DEIS school but it takes a significant number of children from deprived backgrounds. It is doing a tremendous job. We focused on DEIS schools in the cities and forgot about schools in rural towns.

This Government is not being fair. It cannot blame the troika, which is here to help us and sort us out, although I believe it is bleeding us dry. These decisions are being made by the Minister. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources lobbied on the issue on behalf of teachers and boards of management in his own constituency. They voted for this at Cabinet. Where is the compassion? Is it Labour's way or Frankfurt's way? Shame on that party for hitting the most needy. As Deputy Adams stated, mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.

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