67 DEIS schools in Mayo under threat of cuts ^Featured

DEIS schools are part of a programme to tackle educational disadvantage. 

Cllr Ruane said that following a Sinn Féin motion in the Dail, the Minister has agreed to a review, however this does not go far enough.

Cllr. Ruane said: “The cuts to essential education services announced in last month’s budget are indefensible and wrong. It is clear that the government is continuing to implement the regressive polices of its predecessors by targeting the most vulnerable within our education system.

“If this government press ahead with these cuts, the  progress that has been made in improving our education system over many years will be lost. It will cause irreparable damage to many young peoples’ lives and will have serious implications for wider Irish society and our economy.

“Here in Mayo, there are 67 DEIS schools under threat of cuts. It is completely unacceptable that a county suffering harsh economic and social deprivation would be targeted for such an insidious cut by this Government.

No commitment

“Labour and Fine Gael back benchers  are claiming this review of DEIS schools as a u-turn . But the Minister has not yet committed to withdrawing  the announced cuts in teaching supports to DEIS schools. 

"Yes, he has committed to a review on a case by case basis; this could amount to a mere 4 week stay of execution. Surely, a review could have been carried out before these horrendous measures were announced in the Budget 2012?

"Labour and Fine Gael need to be very clear. If they continue to pursue the least well off in society to carry the burden of unsustainable banking debt they will face an almighty battle from the communities affected here in Mayo and across the state."

“I am calling on the Minister and our local TDs here in Mayo to stand up for disadvantaged schools and demand that these cuts be reversed immediately."