Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Roinnfidh mé trí nóiméad léi. Tá mé lán-sásta caint faoi oideachas anocht. Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis labhairt ar an gcóras oideachais. Níl aon dabht ach go bhfuil bearnaí móra sa chóras oideachais faoi láthair. Tá sé soiléir nach bhfuil páistí nó daltaí tríú leibhéal ag fáil cothrom na Féinne faoi láthair. Iarraim ar na páirtithe atá i gcumhacht feabhas a chur ar an scéal agus i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh chun é seo a athrú go buan.

This motion does not go far enough. I agree that the issue of class sizes is one that must be addressed and I am hugely disappointed that, despite our having the second highest class sizes in Europe, there was no provision for a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level in budget 2017. I am also disappointed that there was no significant move to address spiralling back to school costs, that are crippling ordinary and middle income households across this State. This is a huge issue and a joint Oireachtas committee report was produced on it, which I assume is sitting on a shelf somewhere. The Government needs to take it off the shelf and do something about back to school costs as soon as possible.

The Labour Party is right to highlight the fact that the €36.5 million allocated to third level will not address the immediate demands of the sector and will scarcely cover demographic changes and ongoing policy initiatives. On these matters, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin agree. However, the motion put forward by the Labour Party completely ignores the significant cuts to critical areas such as the NEPS service, school transport, the school completion programme and guidance counselling services. Sinn Féin has called for the restoration of one guidance counsellor per 500 pupils, ex quota, and 100 is not enough. The motion also conveniently ignores the fact that previous Labour Party Ministers for Education and Skills stood over one of the most despicable cuts to our education system, namely, the 15% cut in resource hours' teaching for children with special educational needs. This was outrageous, considering the fact that these children have been in overcrowded classrooms for many years. It ignores the fact that it was a Labour Minister for Education and Skills who increased student fees despite a clear promise not to do so during an election campaign.

Unfortunately, the Labour Party has very little to be proud of in terms of funding for education. That is the simple reality. Budget 2017 does not go anything like far enough to restore the regressive, harsh cuts imposed on our education system since 2008. It is a missed opportunity and makes a sham of the Minister's so-called plan to create the best education system in Europe. Over 200 schools are currently using prefab accommodation to teach our children and a significant number of schools do not have access to broadband or robust wireless networks. A survey by the Higher Education Authority stated that almost 40% of the capital buildings at third level are in need of upgrade or replacement. Children all across this State wait years to obtain an educational assessment while those with an established special educational need cannot obtain the recommended hours with their resource teacher.

The ESRI has pointed out that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have been disproportionately affected by the cuts to guidance counselling. While I welcome the announcement of the 100 posts in budget 2017, this is not nearly enough to provide the 750 posts needed to provide guidance counselling on the basis of one counsellor per 500 students ex quota.

Every year, I am sure everyone in this House, particularly rural Deputies, is contacted by constituents who have had issues with the school transport system. It is clear that the system does not provide for the needs of our students and does not reflect the reality on the ground, where parents wish to send their child to the established school for their community, the school their friends attend, the school their siblings attend or the school that has been the traditional school for children from their neighbourhood. The huge increase in the numbers of children availing of concessionary transport highlights the fact that this system is failing miserably. The programme for Government contains a clear commitment that a review of the school transport system would be carried out prior to budget 2017 but this has not been fulfilled.

The programme for Government also contains a clear commitment that a review of the barriers to education for lone parents would be completed prior to budget 2017. This raises the question of how many more commitments in relation to education under the programme for Government will not be delivered. This Government needs to show that it is serious about investing in our education system, and about securing the best possible future for our young people. We on the Opposition benches must continue to fight to ensure that this happens. We must not be content to settle for scraps. Our young people deserve much better. This motion does not go far enough and I am urging all parties to support the Sinn Féin amendment. Iarraim ar na páirtithe eile tacaíocht a thabhairt do leasú Shinn Féin.

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