Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has demanded an explanation from the Education Minister Ruairí Quinn as to why disadvantaged schools in Mayo were left out of a review of DEIS cuts this year.
Deputy Calleary commented: “The Education Minister Ruairí Quinn and his Labour Party colleagues have attempted to spin a yarn that they have reversed their mistake on cuts to DEIS schools this year. Yet 16 disadvantaged schools across rural Ireland will still lose a teaching post this September as a result of Minister Quinn’s cuts. These include two schools in Ballina, Scoil Náisúnta Eachleime and Scoil Náisúnta Ros Dumhnach.
“Minister Quinn himself admitted that he made a mistake by singling out the most disadvantaged schools for severe cuts this year. However, he has still only partially reversed this mistake. While urban DEIS schools have retained some of their legacy posts, rural DEIS schools have been left out of the review of the cuts altogether.
“It is incredibly unfair that children in deprived communities across rural Ireland are still being targeted by Minister Quinn in this way. It is also incredibly short-sighted, at a time when we are trying to rebuild communities in Co Mayo that have particularly high levels of unemployment. Fianna Fáil is again appealing to Minister Quinn to do the right thing and reverse his cuts to all rural disadvantaged schools, as well as urban disadvantaged schools.”
