ELECTION SPECIAL VOL.31 / NO.7 nTEACHEeRS’ UNIOwN OF IRELANs D / AONTAS MÚINTEOIRÍ ÉIREANN MAY 2009 Mkeyor vecon 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 Dublin 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 4 When canvassed by any candidate please ascertain their views in respect of the education cuts. The five questions set out on the previous page will guide you in this respect. You might also wish to make reference to TUI NEWS particular cuts that impact especially on the students you teach, or on your own children. In this regard please refer to the pages in this special edition of TUI news setting out the impact of specific cuts. TUI also requests that you contact candidates (you do not meet at your doorstep) by telephone/email in relation to the cutbacks which will impact on the futures of the students in your school/college. We would encourage you to take account of the responses you receive from candidates as well as any record they or their party may have in the recent past in regard to such commitments, as a significant factor in determining how you vote on June 5th 2009. Bye-Elections 2009 responses received from candidates Area Name Party Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Do you believe that a Do you believe that Do you agree with the Will you commit to If elected will you well educated workforce spending in frontline frontline education opposing cuts in the commit to seeking to is essential for the future services should service being exempted frontline education reverse cuts already Make your votecount development of the be regarded as an from spending cuts in the services if you are announced in front line economy? investment? public services? elected? education services in the 2008/2009 Budget? Dublin Central Christy Burke Sinn Féin YES YES YES YES YES Dublin Central David Geary Green YES YES YES YES YES Dublin Central Maureen O’Sullivan Independent YES YES YES YES YES Dublin Central Malachy Steenson Workers Party YES YES YES YES YES Dublin South Elizabeth Davidson Green YES YES YES YES YES Dublin South Ross O’Mullane Independent YES YES YES YES YES Make your votecount Make your votecount Make your votecount European Elections 2009 responses received from candidates Area Name Party Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Do you believe that a Do you believe that Do you agree with the Will you commit to If elected will you well educated workforce spending in frontline frontline education opposing cuts in the commit to seeking to is essential for the future services should service being exempted frontline education reverse cuts already development of the be regarded as an from spending cuts in the services if you are announced in front line economy? investment? public services? elected? education services in the 2008/2009 Budget? Dublin Eibhlin Byrne Fianna Fáil YES YES YES YES YES Proinsius De Rossa Labour YES YES YES YES YES Joe Higgins Socialist YES YES YES YES YES Mary Lou McDonald Sinn Féin YES YES YES YES YES The East Liam Aylward Fianna Fáil YES YES NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE Thomas Byrne Fianna Fáil YES YES NO NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE North West Michael McNamara Reform YES YES YES YES YES Susan O’Keeffe Labour YES YES YES YES YES The South Kathy Sinnott Independent YES YES YES YES YES TUI NEWS 5 6 Local Elections 2009 responses received from candidates TUI NEWS Council Area Name Party Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Do you believe that Do you believe that Do you agree Will you commit to If elected will you a well educated spending in frontline with the frontline opposing cuts in the commit to seeking workforce is services should education service frontline education to reverse cuts essential for the be regarded as an being exempted services if you are already announced future development investment? from spending elected? in front line of the economy? cuts in the public education services services? in the 2008/2009 Budget? Carlow County Council Tullow William Patton Labour YES YES YES YES YES Carlow County Walter Lacey Independent YES YES YES YES YES Council Carlow West Rody Kelly Fianna Fáil YES YES YES YES YES Carlow West John Cassin Sinn Féin YES YES YES YES YES Cavan County Council Ballyjamesduff Shane P.