Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is quite incredible to believe that, after this budget, we again add to the growing list of wasting when it comes to taxpayers' money. It is quite incredible to believe the Government has suggested, is putting forward and has budgeted €9 million for mobile phone pouches for national schools.

Many schools, particularly in rural areas across Roscommon and Galway, are struggling to fund road safety measures and safety outside their school gates, especially in relation to parking. Parents are again contacting me about the annual circus every single year when their children cannot get seats on the school bus, in some cases where the school bus is passing their door. I have had school principals on to me who want to open special classes where there is demand but there is no money and no funding to do that. I have a number of schools, again particularly in rural areas around Roscommon and Galway, that have minor works and had hoped the summer works scheme would be open this year but it did not open. These are minor repairs and works for which they have to go with their hands out to parents, who cannot afford it either, to try to get these works done. Again there is no money for that but we have €9 million to put mobile phones into pouches in primary schools. They could use a ziplock bag or bring a sock to school if they want a pouch. It is just incredible.

With regard to childcare, I want to raise the issue of the amount of money that has supposedly been ring-fenced for early years educators and for the increase they need. Again the Government is relying on the JLC to give early years educators an increase. The last increase that early years educators got was 65 cent through the JLC and it took 14 months to negotiate. We are back to that again. The year before that, it was nothing. It was zero of an increase. Now we are not guaranteeing an increase in pay for early years educators at a time when rooms are being closed by providers because they cannot staff them. They cannot find staff and early years educators are leaving the sector. The 65 cent increase that came in this year was a slap in the face to those professionals and it is deeply disappointing that there is nothing guaranteed for them in this budget.

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