McCreevy defends ‘miserly’ education increase

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy last night defended the 3% increase to the education budget next year and stressed the Government had given the sector €2.4bn extra over the years 1997-2003.

But most criticisms focused on the 4% in funds available for primary school buildings. New schools figured prominently in Fianna Fáil's pre-election promises last May. Many FF backbenchers face a return to their constituencies to explain why these have been delayed, at very least.

The overall paltry increase was sharply criticised by teacher unions, opposition parties and students. The 2003 Estimates published yesterday include a 7% increase in the overall provision for primary education, a 4% increase for the secondary sector, but a 2% overall cut in the allocation to third level.

Labour Education spokeswoman, Jan O’Sullivan, said the education allocation showed up the lies told by FF during the election campaign last April and May. She described the 13% cut in the capital budget for primary education as particularly brutal.

“On top of the swingeing cuts, any of the miserly increases in these estimates will be obliterated by spiralling inflation which now stands at 4.6%. “For many young people going home from damp, dilapidated schools this evening, these estimates represent a slap in the face,” the Limerick East TD said.

Fine Gael education spokeswoman Olwyn Enright said the entire education allocation was a blatant attack on young people’s right to education. Ms Enright condemned the 4% cut in primary buildings allowances as an effective 10% cut once building inflation of 6% was taken into account.

The Laois-Offaly TD said the cut would condemn young people to slum schools for many years to come. “The reduction in funding for disadvantage in primary schools is a soft target for an uncaring minister,” she said, adding a similar formula had been adopted for other sectors.

Sinn Féin education spokesman Sean Crowe said he personally knew of several schools in his area where students were condemned to continue suffering. The Dublin South West TD described the policy as disastrous.

Primary teachers’ leader John Carr of the INTO said his members were dismayed at the news. “Cutbacks will add to the hardship of pupils in many schools around the country,” he said.