Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)

This budget does little to resolve the crisis facing education today. The measures announced will not make a dent in the cost-of-living pressures on schools, in recruitment and retention in teaching or in the problem of oversized classes. We have 600 vacant teaching posts, 51,000 pupils in oversized classes and schools struggling to keep the lights on, yet this budget fails to meaningfully address any of it. It is scandalous that the Government is still failing to meet its own commitment to reduce class sizes. No child should be in a class of over 30. It is just unacceptable. Only 182 new mainstream teachers were promised when 400 are needed to reduce the student-teacher ratio by just one point. Across Europe, the standard is 19 pupils per class but we continue to trail behind. This failure hits all children but especially those with additional needs. Reducing class sizes would help ensure children with more complex needs are not left behind in mainstream. However, as it stands, mainstream is not working for many and especially those with learning difficulties. Some children with additional needs still have not set foot inside a classroom this year, despite promises that no child would be left behind. The new investment means nothing to those families. I urge the Ministers to please do everything possible to get these kids to school.

On school transport, the Government is again missing the mark. There has been no update on the promise of 100,000 extra seats by 2030 and no clarity on when nearest school rules will be scrapped or distance limits reduced. How many more children will be transported to school next year with the €69 million announced? Where is the action on childcare that was promised in the first 100 days? Families in Kildare agus fud fad an Stáit are still waiting as childcare remains either unaffordable or unavailable.

Ó thaobh na Gaeilge de, níor luadh ach beartas nua de luach €11 milliún don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht sa bhuiséad. Ní raibh tagairt ar bith do ghéarchéim tithíochta na Gaeltachta sa bhuiséad seo ná tagairt ar bith don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais - dhá áit ina bhfuil infheistíocht ag teastáil go práinneach. Tar éis blianta fada d'easpa maoinithe, ní rachaidh €2.5 milliún d'Údarás na Gaeltachta agus €2 mhilliún d'Fhoras na Gaeilge i bhfad chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Is léir go bhfuil neamhaird déanta ag an Rialtas den 25,000 Gael a bhailigh sa chathair seo roinnt seachtainí ó shin, leis an easpa measa atá á thaispeáint dár dteanga náisiúnta sa bhuiséad.

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