“80 Cavan/Monaghan primary schools under threat” – Ó Caoláin

Cavan-Monaghan Deputy and Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has warned that 80 schools with fewer than 100 pupils in the two counties are under threat from the proposals on education in the McCarthy Report. The so-called ‘Bord Snip Nua’ recommends the closure or merging schools of under 100 pupils, a move Ó Caoláin said would “devastate rural Cavan and Monaghan”.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

“The McCarthy report recommends the shutting down or merging of all schools with 100 pupils or less, resulting in the laying off of around 500 teachers. In Counties Cavan and Monaghan this would mean the closure or merging of 80 schools.

“This proposal would devastate rural Ireland, including rural Cavan and Monaghan. The primary school is the heart of every small community. Closures and mergers on this scale will have a huge impact. As well as causing major inconvenience to families, especially given our inadequate school transport system, this move would mean further rural decline, following the closure of local post offices and small retailers.

“The Government has refused to rule out this McCarthy recommendation and if it is allowed to go ahead in the Budget it will see the death of rural schools, larger class sizes, poorer educational standards, redundancy for teachers and higher transport costs.

“The Government’s crazy NAMA plan will cost every man, woman and child €15,000 to bail out bankers and property speculators. This is being given priority over the education of our children.

“We in Sinn Féin will fight tooth and nail to protect our local schools and will campaign vigorously against these and all other education cuts.”

Sinn Féin Highlight impact of Education Cuts on Monaghan schools

Over 50 Sinn Féin members and supporters, including local teachers, attended a protest in Monaghan town last Saturday to highlight the devastating impact that government cuts will have on primary and secondary schools in the county. Protestors gathered at the Courthouse in the county town and held placards stating: “Stop Education Cuts” and “Leave Our Schools Alone”. Members also distributed leaflets outlining Sinn Féin’s view that “every euro spent on the banks is a euro taken away from our children’s education”.

Speaking following the protest Clones area Councillor and former chairperson of County Monaghan VEC, Pat Treanor, said that County Monaghan schools were facing hard times ahead as cuts to education hit home.

Cllr. Treanor said:

“Monaghan pupils heading back to school this week after their summer break will have began to see the reality of the cuts that have been have been a hot topic of debate over the last number of months. Pupils have found themselves in larger classes, with limited resources and sometimes in cramped accommodation.

“Throughout County Monaghan primary and secondary schools have lost mainstream teachers and classes for children with special educational needs. This has obviously meant that good teachers have lost their jobs while other, younger teachers, are finding it difficult to get employment. In the medium term this will have a huge impact on Monaghan schools, the quality of learning and the well-being of vulnerable children.

“Many parents will be beginning to see the real costs of the Fianna Fáil cuts with the cost of sending children to school continuing to rise and more and more parents are finding themselves under immense pressure to find the money needed.

“Parents will be forced to fundraise more for the upkeep of their children’s’ school as the money is simply not there. The reality is that many parents simply cannot afford to do this. Parents are losing their back to school allowances and cuts in child benefit are looming. Many people that I have spoken to in County Monaghan have paid upwards of €800 on uniforms, school transport fees and books. This is nothing short of a scandal.

“Our children must not be made scapegoats for the reckless behaviour of this government and their cronies the bankers and developers. It’s time for us to fight back and that is what the Sinn Féin campaign ‘Leave our schools alone’ is all about. We will continue to highlight the very negative impact that Fianna Fáil cuts are having on our children’s education. This may well mean more protests in this county as we will ensure that local Fianna Fáil representatives cannot wash their hands from this issue as it is their party that is implementing these devastating cutbacks” Cllr. Treanor concluded.

Sinn Féin launch campaign to fight education cutbacks

Clones Town and County Councillor Pat Treanor has called on the people of County Monaghan to support the Sinn Féin campaign against Government cutbacks in education spending. Speaking after his party launched the campaign entitled ‘Leave our Schools Alone’ Cllr. Treanor, who is a former chairperson of County Monaghan VEC, said the education budget should be exempt from Government cutbacks as it is crucial to our long term economic recovery.

He said the Government was slow to react to the recession and is now implementing short sighted measures which target our children and which are ultimately detrimental to our economic recovery.

Cllr. Treanor said “Sinn Féin will not tolerate any cutbacks in the education sector. We will not stand by while the Government foolishly destroys our education infrastructure.

“While we all know that we are in dire economic circumstances, we believe that our education budget must be exempt from Government cutbacks. In fact it makes no economic sense to be cutting the education budget as it is crucial to our long term economic recovery.

“We have launched the ‘Leave our Schools Alone’ campaign to fight these cutbacks and to highlight the harsh realities faced by families as a result of the Government’s reckless policy.

“We will be highlighting cuts faced by schools right across the state including County Monaghan and bringing to the people’s attention just what this incompetent government has done to our education system and to our children.

“We are demanding a first class education system that enables future generations reach their potential and that is properly funded through a fair and progressive taxation system rather than the current situation where under-resourced schools are increasingly dependent through parents’ contributions and fundraising efforts.

“As a member and former chairperson of County Monaghan VEC as well as a father I am utterly appalled at the cuts which will now come into affect as our children return to school.

“Class sizes are set to increase, resources will be slashed, book grants are abolished and children will continue to be educated in dilapidated, overcrowded buildings and prefabs even though building new schools would create employment.

“Parents and teachers have had enough. Our children did not cause this recession. They should not foot the bill for this government’s incompetence. Now is the time to fight back.
“I am urging all parents, teachers and all those who will not stand for attacks on our schools to join us in our campaign. Our message to the government is clear – LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS ALONE!”