Mattie McGrath criticises government over teacher support
Mattie McGrath criticised the government's handling of education funding and support for teachers, highlighting special education shortages and administrative failures. He praised the Social Democrats' motion as timely, warned that teachers are 'voting with their feet' and called for urgent action on ASD unit shortages and unresponsive local services.
Funding priorities
He argued that the government can find extra money for bankers and senior civil service departments but fails to adequately support teachers, calling this contrast unacceptable and damaging to children's education.
Special education and local services
He cited the National Principals Forum to say that extra funding for special education is not reflected in schools' experiences. In his area there has been no CINO for nearly six months, CINO services fail to respond to queries, parents are fobbed off, ASD units are full and there are no places available in South Tipperary.
School leadership under strain
He expressed support for Boards of Management, principals and assistant principals, saying they work with scarce resources and receive poor respect from the Department of Education. He described the situation as shocking and not good enough for children with additional needs.
Policy decisions and consequences
He warned that teachers are emigrating - 'voting with their feet' - and criticised a recent decision to cancel or curtail extended leave for teachers at a time of crisis, saying such measures exacerbate recruitment and retention problems.
Political and social values
He welcomed the Social Democrats' motion and said he values rural independence and refugees, adding that he values every human being 'from the womb to the tomb'. He also noted he did not want a lecture from Dr. Smith on those positions.
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I do want to compliment the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion here today, and I think it's very, very timely. Look, we have, of course, and I don't agree with Deputy Barry on much, but I do agree with everything he said. We can pay the bankers, give them extra money. We can pay any of the senior civil services departments who want to move extra money. And we can't support our teachers. That's such an important role they play in giving tuition and learning and education and life skills to the Dini Oge, to our children. And I think it's more on tuition. It's not good enough. And indeed, right across the spectrum, if you don't mind, I did mention the Department of Education. You claim to have invested additional funding in special education resources, but this is not reflected in the experience of schools, according to National Principals Forum. In my own area, we have had no CINO for a prolonged period, nearly six months now. The CINO fails to respond to queries, and parents are fopped off. All the ASD units are full. And with no places available at all in South Tipperary. And I want to support all the Board of Management, and the principals, and the assistant principals, and for the job they do, with such scare and miniscule resources, and such respect from the Department of Education. It's simply quite shocking. It's just not good enough. This is another failure by your government, for our children, with additional leads. And we ultimately need action to take to address the failures, because, you know, according to the National Principals Association, we see teachers voting with their feet, going abroad. And what do you do this week? Decide, above all times in such a crisis, to cancel, or to try and wipe out, um, um, annual, sorry, leave, extended leave, and teachers from a career base. It's just a beggar's belief, that you do this. What have you got against the teachers? Because, as I said, our youth are most important. And, of course, we value the rural independence, value our refugees. And I don't want to have to get a lecture from Dr. Smith about that. We value every human being, from the, from the womb to the tomb, as I'm concerned, and we don't have any issue about that. Good morning.
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