Fine Gael calls for public sector pay freeze to avoid damaging education cuts

FINE GAEL has urged Taoiseach Brian Cowen to implement a public sector pay freeze in order to avoid the damaging education cutbacks.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told the Dáil yesterday that a pay freeze on public servants earning more than €50,000 a year would save €300 million and prevent the “mayhem” in classrooms that the cutbacks would cause.

“That money would save all of the services that are to be cut, namely books for Travellers, language resource teachers, resource teachers and cover and substitution where required,” said Mr Kenny.