Education Department's cost-cutting disturbing and unacceptable - Crowe
Sinn Féin Education and Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has described
revelations
today that the Department of Education and Science have been
prioritising
cost over safety since 2002 as “disturbing and unacceptable.”
Deputy
Crowe also raised concerns at some of the proposed measures the
Minister
has been considering to reduce costs.
Speaking today he said,
“The revelations in the media today that the
Department
of Education and Science have been prioritising cost over safety
as
far back as 2002 are disturbing and unacceptable. The Minister
considered
seat belts unnecessary and saw nothing wrong with the so-called
three
for two rule. This calls into question the veracity of Minister Síle
Devalera’s
citing of logistical problems, such as the difficulty of
designing
suitable seat belts for four to seventeen year olds, as being a
factor
whilst answering questions in the Dáil on 24/5/2005. When one
weighs
this up against the fact that 16 pupils have been killed on school
buses
in the last decade what emerges is a picture of neglect. Even now
the
Minister could act to ensure students will be able to travel safely to
school
when the new term starts, but yet again it seems that cost will take
precedence
over safety. It has now emerged that when the new term starts
in
three weeks not enough buses will be available forcing thousands of
pupils
to travel under the now infamous three for two system. As I have
said
previously there will now be an attempt to deny pupils transport on
the
basis of catchment areas. The Minister’s response to overcrowding is
not
to provide more buses it would seem, but rather to deny students a
place
on the bus.
“I would also be gravely concerned at some of the
measures the Minister has
been considering to reduce costs. She
has actually being talking about
getting rid of the free tickets
for children of medical cardholders.
Considering the criterion
for qualifying for the medical card this proposal
would increase
hardship for families that are already hard pressed.
Cutting
back the special needs services and increasing the ticket price by
30%
are in the same vein. I call on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to
immediately
clarify her intentions. What is required of the Minister now
is
an unequivocal declaration that safety and demand come before money.”
ENDS