Order of Business, Seanad Eireann, Wednesday 18th January 2012

I ask that the Leader request the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, to come to this House as soon as possible to discuss the fall-out from the budget to small rural schools, DEIS schools and career guidance teachers, the positions of which remain unclear.  Concern in this regard is building.  We need to be honest with the people. It might have been more honest to say there is to be a cut in the pupil-teacher ratio.

Let us have a debate on the amalgamation of small rural schools. We need clarity on this issue, in respect of which current debate is not helpful. These cuts are proposed against the background of 99 senior academics refusing to take a pay cut at the request of the Minister, Deputy Quinn. These people are on salaries of more than €200,000 and have been asked to take a cut which would bring them down to €200,000. This is hard to swallow bearing in mind the cuts to basic services at primary and secondary school level.  I want to who these people are. They are supposed to be our educational leaders.  Education is the great equaliser.  These people in refusing to step up to the plate and take cuts like the rest of us – I accept they work hard but so do we and we have taken cuts – are reinforcing how unequal Irish society is.
I call on the Minister, Deputy Quinn, to ensure these people take a cut in salary. If he needs our help, we are here.  The Minister should, if necessary, bring forward legislation to ensure they take a cut. We must all be in this together if we are to recover, not only in terms of the economy, but societally.  In this regard, we need our educational leaders, in particular third level top notch people, to play their part

Reply:

Senator Maurice Cummins: Senator Healy Eames spoke about education matters, including DEIS and small rural schools and guidance counsellors.  She also highlighted the issue of senior academics refusing to take a pay cut.  It is disgraceful that some of these people have not even replied to the Minister’s request. I agree that they should be benchmarked against their EU counterparts.  It is not acceptable that these people can live in ivory towers when the Taoiseach is prepared to take a cut and have his salary capped at €200,000.  These people, who are well heeled, should take such a cut.  I will ask the Minister, Deputy Quinn, for a wide-ranging debate on education.  The Minister will be in the House next week dealing with legislation.