Cuts threaten child literacy - McGrath

INDEPENDENT TD Finian McGrath has claimed the Government is running literacy campaigns while cutting services which would help children to read and write.

He asked why the Government was reducing supports by 10 per cent for children with special needs. “It is time to face reality.”

“Why is the Government giving €100 million a year to 55 fee-paying wealthy secondary schools and €8 million of taxpayers’ money in building projects for the most privileged in our society, while cutting services for the most needy pupils?” Mr McGrath asked.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn had announced 90 per cent of the allocation for special needs teaching as a start to comply with the regulations and conditions.

“The report into the position of special needs assistants deserves serious debate by this House because it contains some recommendations and revelations that are quite startling in respect of the pressure on professionals to declare children as being in need of special needs assistance when many of them might well not require the assistance for the duration of their school days,” Mr Kenny added.

Mr McGrath said the Taoiseach should examine the use of money, such as the €17 million overtime bill for unheard court cases.

Mr Kenny said the Government had initiated a comprehensive spending analysis and review for the first time under the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

He added that there were difficulties relating to fee-paying schools, with the situation not as clear as Mr McGrath had indicated. There were allocations for religious denominations.

Mr Kenny said he shared the view that no more than any other department, the Department of Education should be subject to a comprehensive spending analysis.

SCHOOL BOOKS: MOVE TO CUT COSTS

MINISTER FOR Education Ruairí Quinn said he intended ending the tradition of his department not having a role to play in the cost of school books.

He said TDs had expressed concern to him about the cost and the apparent marginal changes which nevertheless required a new book to be bought.

Mr Quinn said he would meet publishers to discuss the matter.