ELECTION SPECIAL

VOL.31 / NO.7 nTEACHEeRS’ UNIOwN OF IRELANs D / AONTAS MÚINTEOIRÍ ÉIREANN MAY 2009

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IN EUROfPEoAN, LeOCdALuANcD DÁItL BiYoE E LECTIONS ON 5 th JUNE 2009 B ox

Cutbacks in education will impact on the futures of our children www.tui.ie A Word from The President

TUI PRESIDENT, DON RYAN SCHOOLS UNITED RALLY

In my address to the Schools The opportunities denied to our to gain competitive advantage United Rally in last children cannot be restored next when economic growth resumes. December I stated that we would year or the following year. Each “let all political parties know that child’s opportunity comes only As a first step in our opposition to when they come before the once, and the educational any move to further asset- strip electorate that there would be a opportunity of today’s children is the system and to ensure adequate heavy political price to be paid for being seriously damaged. Our investment in the re-skilling of the sacrificing our children’s future”. children cannot wait until the new un-employed we must ensure economy recovers from the that for the forthcoming elections When deciding which way we vote damage done by this government’s we lend our support only to those we consider the public good, what ineptitude. candidates who give an is best for our communities and unequivocal undertaking to protect what best serves our country as a Despite the magnitude of the and support the education system whole. A commitment by damage done to it over the past and especially those most candidates and political parties to nine months our education system vulnerable and disadvantaged in the retention of a quality education faces even greater challenges in the our communities. system should be a vital coming year. The retention of component in making the decision. teachers and lecturers essential to The indiscriminate cuts to the the education system must be a education system announced in priority. There must also be a October’s budget and the commitment to invest now in moratorium on the filling of building new skills that will put us essential management posts in in the strongest possible position Don Ryan, TUI President schools and colleges announced in as the economy recovers. Skills to March will have a devastating effect support the development of new on a system that is already clearly industries and services will under-funded. determine whether we are ready

2 TUI NEWS Mkeyor vecon www.tui.ie

TO: Each Candidate in all Local Elections / European Elections / Dáil Bye-Elections

14th May 2009 I would appreciate your response to Authorities such as the OECD have them no later than 12 noon on Tuesday expressed the view that spending on Dear Candidate, 19th May 2009. The questions are short education should be regarded as an You will be aware that the Government and I believe all are amenable to a investment. It follows, therefore, that has over the past year introduced a straightforward “yes” or “no” answer. I education should be exempt from number of significant cuts in overall would ask that you respond in this cutbacks in spending, even in the grim education spending. TUI believes that manner. financial circumstances in which Ireland these Budget cuts will have a now finds itself. Many others share this disproportionate effect on the more It is the intention of the Union to view with the TUI. disadvantaged in our society. Regrettably, publicise amongst its membership the the disadvantaged are the least able to responses to the questions and to ask our We are talking about the service available cope with any reduction in the level of members to take these views into to the young people and adult learners of education provision or with additional account when casting their vote in the the nation. We are not talking about the costs being imposed on them. They will forthcoming elections on 5th June 2009. pay and conditions of teachers. inevitably suffer the most in the short term and in the long term as a I enclose, for your information, a list of I look forward to receiving your response consequence of the cutbacks. the cutbacks in education made in the prior to 12noon on Tuesday 19th May 2008/09 budgets, which will have an 2009. In your capacity as a Candidate for the extremely negative effect on the level of forthcoming election, I wish to put to you and overall quality of service provision at Yours sincerely, a number of questions, (see attached) and all levels of education. Peter MacMenamin, General Secretary

In order to highlight the unacceptable cutbacks in education, TUI sent a short questionnaire to candidates in the forthcoming European, local and bye elections in Dublin South and Dublin Central.

In respect of the local elections the questionnaire was sent to candidates seeking election to county councils and city councils only. Every effort was made to ascertain the email addresses of the candidates in the above elections.* * TUI was able to obtain email addresses for party candidates from the political parties concerned. The union found it very difficult to obtain the email addresses of non party and independent candidates, as there is no requirement for candidates to give their email addresses to the returning officers .

Questions for “Yes” or “No” Response

1. Do you believe that a well educated workforce is essential for the future development of the economy? Yes □ No □

2. Do you believe that spending in frontline services should be regarded as an investment? Yes □ No □

3. Do you agree with the frontline education service being exempted from spending cuts in the public services? Yes □ No □

4. Will you commit to opposing cuts in the frontline education services if you are elected? Yes □ No □

5. If elected will you commit to seeking to reverse cuts already announced in front line education services in the 2008/2009 Budget? Yes □ No □

Mkeyor vecon TUI NEWS 3 Q5 YES YES YES YES YES YES If elected will you 2008/2009 Budget? reverse cuts already commit to seeking announced in front line education services in the Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES elected? services if you are frontline education Will you commit to opposing cuts in the Q3 YES YES YES YES YES YES public services? frontline education Do you agree with the service being exempted from spending cuts in the Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES investment? services should be regarded as an Do you believe that spending in frontline Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES economy? development of the Do you believe that a well educated workforce is essential for the future Party Independent Green Workers Party Workers Independent Green Sinn Féin Name Ross O’Mullane Ross Elizabeth Davidson Malachy Steenson Maureen O’Sullivan David Geary Christy Burke Area Bye-Elections 2009 responses received from candidates from received 2009 responses Bye-Elections Dublin South Dublin South Dublin Central Dublin Central Dublin Central Dublin Central When canvassed by any candidate please ascertain their views in respect of the education cuts. The five The five candidate please ascertain any by When canvassed their views in respect of the education cuts. to reference might also wish to make You in this respect. questions set out on the previous page will guide you children. own or on your particular teach, on the students you cuts that impact especially TUI news setting out the impact of specific cuts. to the pages in this special edition of In this regard please refer doorstep) do not meet at your telephone/email in contact candidates (you by TUI also requests that you school/college.relation to the cutbacks which will impact on futures of students in your record as any from candidates as well receive account of the responses you encourage to take would you We as a significant factor in they or their party in the recent past regard to such commitments, have may on June 5th 2009. vote determining you how

4 TUI NEWS Make your vote count Make your vote count Q5 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE If elected will you 2008/2009 Budget? reverse cuts already commit to seeking announced in front line education services in the Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES elected? NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE services if you are frontline education Will you commit to opposing cuts in the Q3 NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE public services? frontline education Do you agree with the service being exempted from spending cuts in the Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES investment? services should be regarded as an Do you believe that spending in frontline Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES economy? development of the Do you believe that a well educated workforce is essential for the future Party Sinn Féin Socialist Fianna Fáil Labour Labour Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Reform Independent Name Mary Lou McDonald Joe Higgins Thomas Byrne Proinsius De Rossa Proinsius Susan O’Keeffe Eibhlin Byrne Michael McNamara Kathy Sinnott Area European Elections 2009 responses received from candidates from received Elections 2009 responses European Dublin The East North West The South

TUI NEWS 5 Make your vote count Make your vote count Q5 NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Budget? in front line NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE to reverse cuts in the 2008/2009 If elected will you commit to seeking education services already announced Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES elected? NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE services if you are frontline education Will you commit to opposing cuts in the Q3 NO NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES services? Do you agree from spending NO RESPONSE being exempted with the frontline cuts in the public education service Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES investment? services should be regarded as an Do you believe that spending in frontline Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES workforce is a well educated essential for the of the economy? Do you believe that future development Party Labour Independent Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Fianna Fáil Labour Independent Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Green Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Sinn Féin Green Fine Gael Fine Gael Sinn Féin Fianna Fáil Green Green Workers’ Party Workers’ Name William Patton Walter Lacey Walter Rody Kelly Rody John Cassin O’Reilly Shane P. John O’Hare Des Cullen Anthony Vesey Joe Arkins Tom Malone Tom Cathy McCafferty Ann Marie Flanagan Garrett Greene Barry Keane Michael Ahern Ken Ahern Mary Ryder David O’Byrne Adrian Healy Sam Simpson Danny Crowley Adam Douglas Dominick Donnelly Ted Tynan Ted Area Tullow Carlow County Council Carlow West Carlow West Ballyjamesduff Bailieborough Cavan Town Belturbet Ennistymon Ennis Shannon Ennistymon Ennis West Ward South West South West Ward South West South East South Central Carrigaline Skibbereen Bantry Bantry Fermoy Carrigaline Council Local Elections 2009 responses received from candidates from received Local Elections 2009 responses Carlow County Council Cavan County Council Clare Clare County Council Cork City Council Cork County Council

6 TUI NEWS Make your vote count Make your vote count Q5 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE Q3 NO NO NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Party Workers’ Party Workers’ Labour Fine Gael Workers’ Party Workers’ Sinn Féin Green Fine Gael Sinn Féin Green Workers’ Party Workers’ Independent Green Sinn Féin Green Independent Labour Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Green Sinn Féin Workers’ Party Workers’ People Before People Profit Sinn Féin Labour Labour Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Green Labour People Before People Profit Fianna Fáil Name Jackie Connolly Jose Ospina Jim Daly Mick Crowley Des O’Grady Declan Waugh Joanne Sweeney-Burke Oisin O Dubhlain Tony McDermott Tony John Dunne Tina MacVeigh Stephen Wall David Geary Maureen O’Sullivan Sinead Seery Ruadhan MacAodhain Helen McCormack Donna Cooney Killian Forde Andrew McGuinness Brid Smith Louise Minihan Rebecca Mary Frehill Christy Burke Criona Ni Dhalaigh McHugh Ray Martin Hogan John Lyons * John Lyons Martin O’Sullivan Darragh Butler Area Bantry Clonakilty Macroom Skibereen Letterkenny Rathmines Pembroke Crumlin Kimmage Ballymun Dublin City Ballyfermot Drimnagh Artane/Whitehall North inner city North inner city Artane/Coolock North inner city Clontarf Clontarf Donaghmede Ballyfermot Drimnagh Ballyfermot Drimnagh Ballyfermot Drimnagh South West Inner City Inner West South Rathmines Pembroke Pembroke Rathmines Ward Dublin City South West Inner City Inner West South Dublin City South West Inner City Inner West South Dublin North West Artane/Whitehall Fingal C.C. Council Donegal County Council Dublin City Council

TUI NEWS 7 Make your vote count Make your vote count Q5 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q3 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Party Socialist Socialist Socialist Labour Socialst Independent Independent Labour Labour Labour Sinn Féin Labour Labour Fianna Fáil Green Workers’ Party Workers’ Independent Fine Gael Sinn Féin Socialist Fine Gael Sinn Féin People Before People Profit Fine Gael Green Labour Independent Labour Fine Gael Independent Sinn Féin People Before People Profit Name Terry kelleher Terry Patrick Nulty Patrick John McCalmly Joe Higgins Denis Keane Michael O’Donovan Gerry McGuire Peter Coyle Peter Colm O Murchadha Pat Ward Pat Pat Ward Pat John Hennessy Dorothy Corrigan Michael Finnegan Ray Kelly Ray Cait Keane Sinead Cooke Mick Murphy Derek Keating Cathal King Pat Dunne Pat William Lavelle Kevin Farrell Eamon Tuffy David Hutchinson Dermot Looney Victory Boyhan Eoin O’Broin Area Fingal C.C. Fingal C.C. Fingal C.C. Fingal C.C. Fingal / Swords Fingal C.C. Fingal C.C. Fingal C.C. Fingal C.C. Howth Malahide Howth Malahide Swords Swords Swords Clondalkin Lucan/ Tallaght Central Tallaght Rathfarnham/ Terenure Tallaght South Tallaght Lucan/Palmerstown Tallaght South Tallaght Tallaght Central Tallaght Lucan/Palmerstown Lucan/Palmerstown Lucan/Palmerstown Central Tallaght Tallaght Central Tallaght Glencullen/Sandyford Blackrock/ Monkstown Ballybrack Dun Laoghire Council South Dublin County Council Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown

8 TUI NEWS Make your vote count Make your vote count Q5 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q3 NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Party People Before People Profit Sinn Féin Labour Fianna Fáil Independent Fianna Fáil Independent Independent Green Sinn Féin Fine Gael Sinn Féin Labour Sinn Féin Labour Fine Gael Labour Labour Independent Independent Fine Gael Labour Sinn Féin Fine Gael Sinn Féin Green Labour Sinn Féin Labour Sinn Féin Fianna Fáil Labour Sinn Féin Name Hugh Lewis Oonagh O’Reilly Stephen Fitzpatrick Larry Lohan Donal Lyons Sheila Mangan Aidan McCabe Sean Canney Paul Osikoya Paul Kenneth Coyne O’Connor John Porridge Risteard O Fuarain Marie Moloney Lynn Ni Bhaoigheallain Lynn John Sheehan Richard Daly Paddy Kennedy Paddy Chris Rowland Pat McCarthy Pat Catherine Murphy Paddy Kennedy Paddy Senan Griffin John McGinley Mary Hilda Cavanagh Ray Quinlan Ray Duncan Russell Jim O’Brien Aidan Mullins Margaret Guijt Lawlor Marie Johnston Jerry Lodge Adrian Kane Michael Colreavy Area Ballybrack Dundrum Centre ward Ballybrack Galway City West Galway City East Galway City Tuam Tuam Conamara Killorglin Listowel Kerry Killarney Killorglin Athy Kildare Co Council Clane Naas Celbridge Newbridge Celbridge Kilkenny Ballyragget Ballyragget Thomastown Portlaoise Emo Emo Luggacurren Laoise Portlaoise Manorhamilton Council Galway City Council Galway County Council Kerry County Council Kildare County Council Kilkenny County Council Kilkenny Laois County Council Leitrim County Council

TUI NEWS 9 Make your vote count Make your vote count Q5 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q3 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Party Labour Labour Sinn Féin Workers’ Party Workers’ Labour Green Sinn Féin Independent Independent Independent Independent Independent Fine Gael Fine Gael Sinn Féin Labour Fine Gael Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Fine Gael Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Labour Fine Gael Labour Labour Labour Name Ciaran O Mathuna Joe Woodcock Tomas Sharkey Tomas Peter Short Peter Gerald Nash Mark Deary David Keating Andy Wilson Frank Durkan Frank Michael Kilcoyne Gerry Ginty Sylvia Spain Joe Mellett Gerry O’Connor Sinead Burke Michael MacLoughlin Maria Murphy Treanor Pat Paul McGeown Paul Padraigin Ui Mhurchadha Padraigin Donal Sherry Malachy Toal Brian McKenna Marcella Corcoran Kennedy Gordon Hughes Sinead Guckian Padraig Fallon Padraig Orla McLoughlin John Ryan James Heffernan Elena Secas Area Dundalk Dundalk East Dundalk South Dundalk South Drogheda East Dundalk South Westport Westport Castlebar castlebar Ballina Swinford Swinford Dunshaughlin Slane Dunshaughlin Dunshaughlin Clones Monaghan Monaghan Monaghan Monaghan Monaghan Ferbane Ballinamore Carrick on Shannon Dromahair City Limerick City Limerick North Kilmallock Castleconnell Council Louth County Council Mayo County Council Meath County Council Offaly County Council Limerick City Council Limerick County Council Longford County Council

10 TUI NEWS Make your vote count Make your vote count Q5 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE Q4 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q3 NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO RESPONSE Q2 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Q1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Party Labour Sinn Féin Independent Fianna Fáil Independent Independent Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Fine Gael Labour Sinn Féin Workers’ Party Workers’ People Before People Profit Fianna Fáil Green Workers’ Party Workers’ Workers’ Party Workers’ Workers’ Party Workers’ Fianna Fáil Labour Sinn Féin Labour Labour Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Green Labour Green Labour Name Sean O’Brien Brendan Killeavy John Kelly Larry Brennan Declan Bree Margaret Gormley Sean MacManus Thomas Healy Seamus Morris Marie Murphy Darren Ryan Joe Kelly Davy Walshe Donie Fell Liam Dunne Maria Raftis-Kennedy Davy Walsh Willie More Joe Tobin Ken Glynn Denis Leonard Ger Corcoran Dan McCarthy * Maurice Roche Danny Forde Joe Ryan Caroline Burrell Barry Nevin Area Tullamore Tullamore Tullamore Tullamore Castlerea/ Ballaghaderreen Mid Roscommon Strandhill Tubercurry Strandhill Ballymote Nenagh Cahir Clonmel City Waterford Waterford City Waterford Waterford City Waterford Waterford City Waterford Waterford City East Waterford Waterford City North Waterford Waterford City South Waterford Waterford City East Waterford Mullingar Mullingar East Westmeath Kilbeggan Coole Gorey Wexford District Wexford Wexford District Wexford Wexford District Wexford Bray & Greystones Bray East Council Roscommon County Council Roscommon Tipperary North Tipperary South Waterford County Council Waterford Westmeath Wexford County Council Wexford Wicklow County Council * = These candidates responded to TUI but did not respond in a yes or no format and therefore could not be collated with the above results. results. or no format could not be collated with the above and therefore did not respond in a yes TUI but These candidates responded to * =

TUI NEWS 11 Make your vote count Make your vote count www.tui.ie

The Education Cuts ……… How will they impact?

THE CUTBACKS THE IMPACT School Capital budget down by €5m • No repair / improvement in facilities • Overcrowded or substandard conditions

Teacher numbers: • Most schools lose up to 1.5 teachers; some schools lose in excess of 3 teachers • Increased pupil teacher ratio • Increased class size • Subject options more limited • Cap of 2 Language support teachers • Leaving Certificate Applied, Junior Cert Schools Programme and TransitionYear are likely to be curtailed • Posts to non-DEIS schools withdrawn • Pastoral care, tutorial and guidance support and personal attention to students curtailed • Increased risk of drop out and early school leaving • Moratorium on appointments and promotions • Progression to third level and work more restricted • Increasingly difficult to run schools effectively

Substitution cover significantly reduced • Classes unattended on a regular basis • Extra curricular activities (eg sports, drama, debating) severely restricted. Withdrawal of /Reduction in School Funding : Subjects grants: Home Economics; Physics and Chemistry • Loss of €20,000 or more in day to day budgets Programmes grants: Junior Certificate Schools • Access to basic materials and resources for learning Programme; Leaving Certificate Applied Programme; curtailed Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme; TransitionYear • Some students will not have the books required • Increased risk of drop out and early leaving Other grants: Funding for Travellers; Funding for • Significant additional cost to parents of up to and over €500 non - DEIS schools; School book aid to non - DEIS schools; per child Library grants Other increases: State Examinations up by 8%; School transport charges increased to annual fee - €300 per student (up by €142 junior cycle; €66 senior cycle); Funding for School Completion Programme reduced

Higher Education • Limited capacity to respond to the current economic crisis • Payroll reduced by circa 7% • Subject/electives curtailed • Classes amalgamated / Reduced provision for specialisms • Increased student registration fee (€900) • Class contact time and content reduced • No increases in student maintenance grants • Lab and practical work restricted • Reductions in Strategic Innovation Fund • Tutorials and individual support curtailed • Moritorium on appointments and promotions • Less capacity to provide access supports (eg special needs) • Increased cost to families • Capacity to lead innovation restricted • Increasingly difficult to run colleges effectively

Adult and Further Education • Reduction in the number of courses • Non-pay grant grants reduced by 5% • Capacity to meet the needs of the unemployed restricted • Reduction of 500 places on the Back to Education Initiative • Disadvantaged groups most vulnerable • Reduction of 100 places in Senior Traveller Training Centres • Delivery in outreach locations curtailed • Inadequate information to learners – low participation rates • Essential supports withdrawn - childcare, disability and guidance

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