Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is timely in the context of the forthcoming budget, the return of pupils to school and the current media focus on education, that we are discussing education in the House.

Much of the work in which I am engage at community level is related to education in terms of meetings with primary and secondary schools in relation to bringing building projects to the fore. An issue not highlighted in the discussion thus far is that of people with severe to profound disabilities who leave the education sector. It should not be forgotten that there are people in the education sector who despite adversity are succeeding in overcoming their challenges. They are doing so well it must be noted. It is important that element of education, which is considerable and costly, remains in place.

All of us in this House are pro-education. There is not a person here who wishes to see money diverted from education, changes in class sizes or resources constrained. However, we live in the real world where things have to happen. I am confident that the decisions made by the Minister for Education and Skills over the past two years were the right ones. The Minister has made mistakes, admitted he did so and corrected them. He has shown that he is an open, reasonable and accommodating Minister. I commend him on his ability to be flexible.

On reading the Sinn Féin motion I was struck by the reference therein to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which relates to education. Article 10 of that declaration deals with the right to a fair trial and Article 5 provides that no one should be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. When discussing politics in this House our focus should be on all human rights.

While I would not disagree with a great deal of what is stated in the Sinn Féin motion, in particular in terms of international standards, are we really expected to commend the Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Mr. John O'Dowd, for his work in education in Northern Ireland? As a representative of a constituency that is urban and rural, I and the Government have been lambasted by Sinn Féin activists in regard to the changes made to the pupil-teacher ratios for small schools. This is nothing compared to what the Minister for Education in the North, Mr. John O'Dowd, is doing. He has explicitly stated that any school in a rural area with fewer than 105 pupils must close because it is not viable or sustainable. There is much talk about the differences between the North and the South. This is Sinn Féin policy by a second consecutive Sinn Féin Minister. Sinn Féin is saying one thing in the North and another in the South. This is what it is doing in respect of education, economics and every other element of politics. It is populism.

I do not propose to support any motion that commends the Minister for Education in the North, Mr. John O'Dowd, on any of the work he is doing.

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