John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)

Small rural schools provide one of the most vital services and are severely under threat in these difficult times. Some 18 such schools in my constituency are under the threshold for potential cuts and in danger of losing teachers in the coming years. This is taking place in a country in which 80% of people are without a third level education qualification and the rate of youth unemployment stands at 28.5%. It is scandalous that the Government is continuing a concerted policy of viewing small schools as liabilities instead of as assets. That is the view of many. The level of disadvantage children in peripheral rural communities face is being compounded by ongoing cutbacks and increases in the pupil-teacher ratio which directly affect the quality of education students receive. All independent bodies have stated this and that we are reaching the stage where, in 2012, the education of our children is being affected. We should carefully ponder this point. On a number of occasions the troika has stated it does not wish to see cuts in education because of the potential to create jobs. The more educated a person is, the better his or her chance of finding a job. It is deplorable that we do not have the foresight to see the long-term damage we are doing to our children's education through cuts in education, particularly in small schools.

Parents are angry at the Government and scared for the future of their children. The Save our National Schools campaign is gathering momentum across the country as the gravity of the cuts hits parents. They are not prepared to see €140 million hacked from the education budget for next year, with a possible further €220 million over two years after that. The Minister must be aware of the anticipated surge in enrolments. By 2018, an extra 70,000 children will demand to be educated, but it will be impossible to provide it if we cut back on the numbers of teachers and small schools. The number of children in primary school is expected to surge by 45,000, while there will be 25,000 more students at post-primary level. These statistics support what I have always said, that quality of life in a country will always be judged by its health service and education system. How do we expect the country to thrive in the future if we cut back on education levels? It will not happen. We are on course for disaster if we think that, by saving a few hundred million euro now and denying a substantial number of children the education they deserve, we will benefit the country in years to come.

I have met many school principals and they are open to discussing alternatives. Alternative measures to cut costs include pooling resources, sharing secretaries and administrative duties. Many schools have spoken about these options and operating in clusters, an option which has been discussed in Waterford.

I draw the attention of the Minister to the success of small schools in Finland, for instance. He should examine the history of education in there, where the government opted to rationalise the administration and management of small schools in remote areas without closing one school. This took place during a downturn. Scandinavian countries are held up as models for educational success and regularly top international school league tables for basic skills. They have not closed a single school. Perhaps the Minister might explore these possibilities.

No child in this country is to blame for the financial mess we are in. This point should sink in to every Member. By refusing to acknowledge the importance of small schools and the relationship with the local community, the Government has given the go-ahead for the piecemeal corrosion of a family friendly, community-based and valuable model of education. If the Minister speaks to people in the know and at the coalface, teachers will tell him that children's education has been affected by the cutbacks made in recent years. This cannot be a good indication for the future of the country.

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