DEIS evaluation reports show absurdity of Quinn’s cuts – Smith

Published on: 13 January 2012


Fianna Fáil has welcomed a series of reports today confirming the success of the previous Government’s DEIS programme in tackling educational disadvantage, and further exposing the irrationality of the cuts announced by Fine Gael and the Labour Party in December’s Budget.

The party has also questioned the substance of Minister Quinn’s “review” of the DEIS cuts.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education Brendan Smith commented, “People should not be fooled into thinking that Minister Quinn has announced a full reversal of the cuts to resources for DEIS schools. He has not. What he has said is that his officials will review the cuts on a case by case basis. There is no clarity on what this actually means for DEIS schools, and whether or not it will result in any school being allowed to keep any of the teaching posts they are due to lose.

“The terms of Minister Quinn’s review are totally unclear. Is it the case that schools currently on the DEIS scheme will now be competing with one another to retain their current staffing levels? How many of the 428 posts in disadvantaged schools which are now under threat are going to be retained?

“I welcome the fact that Minister Quinn has finally realised and acknowledged his grave mistake. However, this mistake is not an isolated example.  Now that he is enjoying a rare moment of self criticism, he should take another look at some of the other damaging decisions he has made since taking up office, including abandoning his promise on student fees and charges, and his attempts to completely dismantle the guidance counsellor system at second-level.

“The evaluation reports published by the Department of Education and the Educational Research Centre show just how successful our DEIS programme has been in tackling educational disadvantage and improving literacy and numeracy standards. To cut the teaching resources for any of these schools would be a huge mistake and extremely short sighted. It would end up costing the State more in the long-run. Given that he has admitted he made a mistake, the Minister must now do the right thing and confirm a full reversal of the DEIS cuts. Setting up another review might buy him more time, but it does nothing to address the very valid concerns held by parents and teachers in DEIS schools.”

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