Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to address this issue and to debate this Private Members' motion. Yesterday, I was very happy, in this Chamber, to laud the leader of Fianna Fáil for his work during his time as Minister for Health and Children, particularly in regard to the tobacco legislation of that time. Today, regrettably, I have to criticise the same Deputy and his party for what I consider a pointless and insensitive Private Members' motion. I am opposed to this motion because it is the strong opinion of the Government, as well as my opinion, that we must and will continue to protect front-line education services in primary and second level schools.

I know the value of adult education and the role the further education sector plays in our society today. I also know the damage that has been done to our economy and to the education sector, in particular, by Fianna Fáil-led Governments over the past 14 years.

I want to place on record the excellent work VECs do throughout the country in providing places for those who want to return to education or post-leaving certificate courses. In excess of 30,000 pupils are already availing of VEC courses which contribute greatly to them having an opportunity to return to the workplace, change career or get an excellent qualification, even though they may have left school early in life.

I want to refer to some recent experiences in the Lucan, Palmerstown and Ballyfermot areas of my constituency, where I saw headlines stating "Ballyfermot VEC College to lose 9 teachers". However, when one goes on to read the actual story that is printed, what is stated is that the principal is readjusting staff and there is every possibility there will be no loss of teachers. It was reported that six teachers could be lost on post-leaving certificate courses in VEC colleges in the County Dublin area. Again, upon a review of this story, it now seems clear to me and to the Department of Education and Skills that, with adjustments, there will be no loss of teaching posts.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, like all other Ministers, has an exceptionally difficult job to find savings in the 2013-14 budget. Today, we need to ask ourselves why the Minister, Deputy Quinn, has to do this. The reason is very simple. Education, like other sectors, has suffered because of the actions of the previous Fianna Fáil-led Governments over a 14-year period. It is Fianna Fáil which recklessly brought this country to economic ruin.

I am not sure whether teachers, adult education-goers or, indeed, union representatives fully appreciate how close this country came to bankruptcy. I recall the Minister, Deputy Quinn, when speaking in this House last year, stated that Michael Collins had more resources and better opportunities at the foundation of the State than our current Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. I believe education is one of the keys to getting us out of the current economic crisis. I am a huge advocate of adult education and, from the many different experiences in previous careers and, in particular, from working as a community volunteer in my constituency, I know the contribution that night school, back to education courses and mature student availability in universities have played in the improvement of individuals' quality of life and opportunity in both changing career and developing their own self-esteem and their own knowledge base.

This time last year, there were pickets and protests outside the gates of Leinster House because of what were then seen to be difficulties with the pupil-teacher ratio and SNAs. This year, it is PLC courses and VEC funding that get the attention from the Opposition, particularly Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. In the circumstances, I believe this represents nothing other than political opportunism to clutch at any issue that will give them the opportunity to increase their popularity in the opinion polls - short-term gain indeed.

The Minister, Deputy Quinn, has my full support in his efforts to ensure that every person seeking a place in school, college or university will have an opportunity for education. However, this has to be measured so we continue to protect the most vulnerable and ensure that savings and budgets are met, given what this Government inherited from the Administrations of the previous 14 years.

In conclusion, I am very confident that the CEOs of our VEC colleges and institutes of technology have the capacity to reorganise courses, to take into consideration natural wastage, retirement and so on, so there will be no loss of teachers and no reduction in the range of courses and subjects available. That is what matters most. The CEOs of VEC colleges and the principals of our colleges have the capacity to work with the Department to meet the challenges that were inherited by the Minister, Deputy Quinn. Therefore, I reject this opportunistic and irresponsible proposal put forward by Fianna Fáil once again.

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