Sinn Féin councillor Thérèse Ruane is calling on the people of Mayo to make a stand in relation to the Government which is planning a Budget which will be even more severe than those published by the last administration. “Septic tank charges, household charges, hikes in road taxes, increase in VAT rates, and the USC, along with cuts to social welfare, child benefit, and students grants are more than people can take. Enough is enough.”
Mayo ASTI representative John Holian, who teaches at Balla Secondary School, is also urging local TDs to protect education in Budget 2012 by voting against any plans to increase the pupil-teacher ratio or reduce resources to schools.
Meanwhile GMIT Castlebar Student Union president Alan Judge has hit out at pre-election guarantee regarding education security. “Just four days before General Election 2011, Ruairi Quinn signed a USI pledge on behalf of the Labour Party not to increase college fees or cut the higher education maintenance grant. Since the election, USI has repeatedly called on the Minister to clarify his position and he has consistently failed to do so.” Members of the USI occupied two Government buildings during the week in relation to this. Mr Judge said: “This is not just a stunt to gain favour in the media but a sincere and heartfelt effort to gain clarity for the students in Castlebar who have been left in limbo about their education.”
