Pressure on Quinn despite cuts reversal

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn still faces political pressure over a number of budget cuts despite a significant rowback on the planned withdrawal of teachers from 132 disadvantaged primary schools.

His anticipated reversal of cuts to schools in the primary strands of his Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (Deis) scheme followed a review by his officials on the likely impact. It was announced in the budget last December that 428 teaching jobs held by schools under pre-Deis disadvantage programme were to be cut, but 235 will now be kept following Cabinet approval yesterday.

“I reflected on the impact on the schools and the socio-economic background of the pupils, and the families and communities,” Mr Quinn said yesterday.