Resource teaching cuts must be reversed

The Government must treat special needs pupils with the dignity that they deserve, says Sheila Nunan

PICTURE this. Ireland’s population is ageing and there are more and more citizens of pensionable age. The social protection minister has announced that in order to “manage the situation”, she will spread the same amount of pension money among the increased numbers of pensioners. As a result, each pensioner will get 75% of what pensioners got two years ago.

But it’s not a 25% cutback you understand. How could anyone call it that when the amount of money is exactly the same as last year? And furthermore, the minister wants credit for maintaining the amount of money available for pensions in these difficult times. It is not an easy job you know, to ringfence money for pensions when billions have to be found for banks and tax cuts for the wealthy to keep the coalition partners happy.