The first of the public sector cutbacks was made evident at this week’s meeting of Westmeath County Council when Kilbeggan councillor and secondary school teacher, Gerard Corcoran, revealed he would have to pay for his own substitute in order to attend.
While discussing a motion from Cllr Ken Glynn calling on the Government to maintain its investment in primary and secondary education, Cllr Corcoran voiced an opinion that it may already be too late at his school, the Mercy in Kilbeggan.
“We’ll lose three teachers next year because of cutbacks,” said Cllr Corcoran.
“We may well have to drop IT completely in an age when it’s the primary way forward. Last year there was €252m put aside for IT teaching. I’d love to know where it went.”
