Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge some of the positives in the budget: the increase in funding, the extra teachers, the guidance counsellors change, the additional posts for SNAs and resources, and also the provision in relation to those one-teacher primary schools that are on islands. The facts are that there is an increase in the numbers attending both primary and second level schools, and the question is whether the education system be able to cope with that increase. The schools are still very much suffering the effects of the austerity budgets and it will take time and a lot more resources to redress those efforts.

There is a couple of particular issues that I want to discuss. One is the pupil-teacher ratio. For me, the priority is those classes with over 30 pupils. Some of them are also dealing with foreign national students who have language difficulties. They are also dealing with pupils with behavioural issues and also with learning difficulties. The research shows the benefits of the small class size, in particular, its role in identifying those with special education needs. The research also shows that higher student achievement is attained in the smaller class sizes. That must be a priority.

Looking at educational disadvantage, of course, I look at my own constituency. In the very disadvantaged areas there, almost half the population only reached primary education, or even lower.

While there is an improvement in the progression to further education into third level, parts of Dublin Central in the north inner city are very far behind. Therefore, I stress the importance of early childhood care. Small class sizes, the school completion programmes, the role of the home-school liaison scheme and parenting programmes all need continued support because they are making a difference.

DEIS status is important. There are schools with significant numbers of children who are disadvantaged but the school does not have DEIS status. That issue is not getting the attention it deserves.

For early school leavers, and I have many of them in my constituency, literacy programmes are vital because some people are still struggling. The special community employment, CE, scheme plays a particularly positive role. From my own teaching days, I know the value of post leaving certificate, PLC, courses as an end in themselves, but also as a progression route to third level. I heard what the Minister of State said about apprenticeships and it is welcome that we are seeing a return of those programmes. Those of us at the Restaurant Association briefing the week before last know of the need for more apprentices to go into the hospitality area.

Looking at the educational disadvantage in terms of the motion and the amendments, there was no reference - unless I missed it when I was reading through them - to the funding that goes into private education and into the fee paying schools. I am appalled when I see second level fee paying schools offering scholarships to children from the non-fee paying primary schools and presenting this as their contribution to educational equality. That implies, however, that the education they provide in their fee paying schools is somehow better than that provided by the community school or the voluntary secondary school.

I wish to raise some other points. I was very critical of the Teaching Council on numerous occasions in the previous Dáil but I am appalled at the treatment of some teachers who, for various reasons, did not get their renewal form in on time due to personal circumstances that were not taken into account. In one case, the fee went through but not the renewal. Unfortunately, teachers have no recourse to anybody beyond the Teaching Council unless they go the legal route.

Second, there are teachers who chose, as is their right, not to join a union but in some schools they are being deemed to be members of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, ASTI, and so the Lansdowne Road agreement does not apply to them. Almost 1,000 teachers are suffering financial penalties because they did not join a union. There have been legal judgments in Ireland and in Europe where the right of employees not to join a union has been upheld and also the right of an employee not to incur penalties because they did not join a union. There would be a huge hue and cry if somebody was penalised for being in a union but there is nothing for those teachers who exercised their right not to join a union.

As a former history teacher, my final appeal is that we would have another look at history at junior certificate level. It cannot be taught in a modular way. It just does not work. We know the importance of history. As a former teacher, I acknowledge the great work that has been done over the years. We hear so much about what is negative but I want to acknowledge the work of teachers, students, and boards of management in schools over the years.

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