Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh agus tacaím leis an rún atá curtha síos ag mo pháirtí agus go háirithe ag an Teachta Dála O'Brien anocht. I gcroílár an rún seo tá an scairt atá ag dul amach anseo sa Dáil anocht agus is í sin go gcuirfeadh an athchóiriú atá molta don Theastas Sóisearach ar athlá agus go mbeadh cainteanna idir an Rialtas, an Aire agus a Roinn agus iad siúd atá ag déanamh ionadaíocht ar son na 27,000 múinteoir ar fud an Stáit. Tá na múinteoirí seo claonta in éadán an athchóiriú nó cuid den athchóiriú seo atá molta ag an Rialtas agus ag an Aire. Níl dabht ar bith ann ach go bhfuil imní ar dhaoine, ní amháin ar mhúinteoirí agus ar na ceardchumainn atá ag déanamh ionadaíocht ar son na múinteoirí, ach ar thuismitheoirí fosta. Tá imní orthu faoi na ciorruithe atá curtha i bhfeidhm ag an Rialtas seo agus ag an Rialtas deireanach sa chóras oideachais. Tá na ciorruithe seo ag cur isteach go mór ar chaighdeán oideachais ár bpáistí agus ar ábaltacht mhúinteoirí an athchóiriú atá molta ag an Aire a chur i bhfeidhm.

Is í an cheist atá ann ná an féidir an athchóiriú seo a chur i bhfeidhm agus an ceart an athchóiríú a chur i bhfeidhm go huile is go hiomlán? Tá go leor cainte ann maidir le hathógáil eacnamaíochta agus deireadh le polasaí diana. Ach tá fios ag gach aon duine atá ag obair san earnáil sin go bhfuil laghdú ar na deontais caipitil de 1% á chur i bhfeidhm aríst i mbliana. Tá fios againn, agus páistí ag bogadh ó dara leibhéal go dtí tríú leibhéal, go bhfuil táilli choláiste ag dul in ard aríst agus sin €2,500. Tá fios againn nach bhfuil deireadh le polasaí diana i gcúrsaí oideachais.

Mar dhuine as Tír Chonaill, tá fios agam na himpleachtaí a bhí ag na polasaí sin ar scoileanna, go háirithe bunscoile beaga agus scoileanna na Gaeltachta nuair a cuireadh suas na rátaí den méid páistí a bhí de dhíth chun múinteoir a choinneáil sna scoileanna sin i 2012, 2013 agus aríst i Meán Fómhair 2014. Cuireann a leithéid sin go mór isteach ar cheantair tuaithe. Bíonn imní ar dhaoine nuair a bhogann páistí nó teaghlach as cheantar go gcaillfear múinteoir san scoil agus go mbeadh ar an scoil dúnadh má choiméadann rudaí sa treo sin.

Má dhírfimid ar an fhíor-cheist, agus mar a dúirt an Teachta O'Brien, tá sé seo ag dul ar aghaidh le tamall fada anois. Tá na múinteoirí ag gearán faoi seo i ndóigheanna éagsúla. Níl siad ag comhoibriú leis an athchóiriú. Tá cuid acu nach bhfuil ag freastal ar na cúrsaí atá á reachtáil dóibh. Tá cuid acu ag déanamh rudaí le linn am lóin. Tá fios againn go raibh stop iomlán ann ar na mallaibh agus ceann eile beartaithe aríst ar an Déardaoin. Cé go bhfuil aitheantas á thabhairt ag ár bpáirtí go bhfuil athrú ann ó thaobh na Roinne de ó tháinig an Aire i gceannas uirthi, níl dabht ar bith ann ach go gcaithfidh an Aire bogadh níos faide síos an bealach sin. Ceann de na rudaí a chur isteach go mór orm féin ná an chuairt a rinne mé go dtí an RDS an tseachtain seo imithe thart, when I visited the BT Young Scientist exhibition. It was uplifting to see so many students and the innovation they were showing and their excitement about their projects as they explained what they were doing. However, along with all the students were the teachers. They probably lit a fuse under them and encouraged them to continue in that direction.

Sometimes when we discuss curriculum reform we forget about the extra-curricular activity engaged in by teachers. This comes down to a basic principle. What is in the best interest of our children? There is no doubt the junior cycle needs to be reformed and teaching at all levels has to be continually reformed. That is accepted and that has happened throughout the decades. However, when 27,000 teachers tell the Minister this is not in the best interest of the students, who do we believe? Do we believe the Minister who says at face value that this has nothing to do with money yet moves from 100% down to 40%? Does she believe it is in the best interest of children that it should be 40% or does she believe it was 100% originally? Should we believe the teachers who convinced the Minister it was in the worst interest of the pupils to have 100% and this is the reason she moved? I believe the practitioners who are in our classrooms teaching our children everything they need to learn to best equip them in society are not striking for themselves. It is not about money; it is about what is in the best interest of their children and our children. As my party has said, there has been a marked difference in the Department's approach to this issue since the Minister took office. However, this is avoidable. The core of the motion is a proposal to suspend the reforms - not to abolish them because they are required - go into meaningful negotiations with the unions, reach agreement to prevent the impending strikes that are in nobody's interest and ensure meaningful reform that has the support of teachers, parents, children and the Minister and her Department.

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