Fianna Fáil councillor calls for education cuts to be reviewed

Fianna Fáil"s Cllr Frankie Keena has this week urged his own Government to review the education cuts proposed in the budget. Cllr Keena said that while he understood the need for a tough budget he felt strongly that the proposal to target the vulnerable sectors in the community waswrong 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 Fáil 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. He also criticised the opposition parties for generating hype and fear among the electorate about the budget and challenged them to present a draft budget to the electorate. 'The only reasons that the Government changed its 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 Fáil and Fianna Fáil councillors throughout the country,' said Cllr Keena. He said it was now necessary for the Government to listen to the grassroots of the party on the proposed education cuts 'First of all it is necessary to welcome the increase of approximately €180m for capital projects to cover all educational levels and also the extra allocation of €300m 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, longterm, 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.' Cllr Keena added that he had contacted his Fianna Fáil Oireachtas colleagues outlining his concerns and annoyance about the education cuts and pointed out that there were alternative ways of making money, such as introducing higher levies on earners of over €100,000, targeting multi-millionaire Irish citizens who were living overseas to avoid paying tax here and getting more money from the banks for the State guarantee scheme. '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 and 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 said.