Education cuts should be reviewed, Cllr. Keena.
In fairness to this Government they are reacting to a financial crisis, which is not only confined to this Country, but it is affecting America and all the major countries in Europe.
While I understand the need to have a tough budget to try and restore confidence in our economy at both national and international level by bringing stability and certainty to the public finances I strongly feel that the proposal to target the vulnerable sectors in our community is wrong and unworkable.
I am glad that the Government made a major amendment to the medical card issue for people over 70 years old. The original proposal was completely ridiculous, even though some people may say that the amendment has not gone far enough. I made numerous phone calls to my Fianna Fail Oireachtas representatives on this matter after the budget outlining my deep concern and disgust at the very notion of taking medical cards from the elderly, he added.
This is not what the ethos of Fianna Fail is about, he added. I want to compliment the elderly in the way that they raised their concerns, for instance, I received numerous phone calls and signed petitions from residents groups on the matter, he said.
I take great exception to the opposition parties in the way that they are generating hype and fear among the electorate on this budget. They know that the economy is in a bad shape but they continue to shout off about every cutback without presenting an alternative workable budget. I challenge them to present their draft budget to the electorate, he added.
The only reasons that the Government changed it's original proposal on the medical cards was because of the voices of the elderly and also the complete opposition to it by the grassroots Fianna Fail and FF Councillors throughout the country, said Cllr. Keena.
This is why it is necessary for the grassroots of the party to be listened to again on the proposed education cuts. I have again received numerous constant calls from people, a lot of them Fianna Fail voters, in relation to these cutbacks, he said.
First of all it is necessary to welcome the increase of approximately 180m euro for capital projects to cover all educational levels and also the extra allocation of 300m euro to cover increases in teachers' salaries and pensions and any new teachers appointed this September, he said.
But on the downside the proposal to introduce cutbacks that will have a direct impact on our children is just not acceptable. It is clear that the proposed increase in the pupil / teacher ratio, the abolition of a number of grant schemes ( eg. The book grant for needy pupils ) and the limitations on language support will have serious, long term, negative implications for our children. Also the removal of substitution cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave will have an immediate negative effect on the day to day running of schools, he added.
We need to provide continued resources for education in order for us to keep turning out a home grown product of well educated people, which will help boost our economy and attract foreign investment into Ireland.
Only last week Minister Sean Haughey while speaking in Tullamore at a conference, said that ‘’the Government’s priority is to continue Ireland’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy and that it sees education and particularly science education as the heart of this transformation’’, this clearly outlines the Government’s commitment to education, said Cllr. Keena. But their present intention of introducing these cuts will not help their aims, it only provides inequality access to an education, he added.
I again have contacted my Fianna Fail Oireachtas colleagues outling my concerns and annoyance to these education cuts and pointed out that there are alternative ways of making money, for example, such as introducing higher levies on income earners over 100,000 euro, targeting our multi millionaires Irish Citizens who are living overseas to avoid paying tax here, getting more money from the banks for the State guarantee scheme, etc., he said.
Another radical approach would be to provide tax breaks to construction companies to encourage them to participate in building major infrastructural projects, such as roads, bridges, bye-passes, major water & sewerage schemes. Obviously projects would be awarded following proper public procurement. The Government would doubly gain from this idea by firstly reducing the number of people on the dole and secondly getting major infrastructural projects completed which will in turn help benefit the economy, he added.
The public in general accept that there is a need for a tough budget. For instance, a large number of people said to me that they would not mind paying more tax in their wages if it meant that their children and elderly are left alone, he concluded.
