Those Critical Underspends in Health and Education

national | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis

Thursday November 29, 2007 11:13

by C Murray

Unfair and Inequitable Systems in Two Government Departments.

Two Government Departments mandated with taking care of the well-being of our kids
have been shown to display two-tier policy which favours the wealthy and ghettoises the
poor. No surprises there except that both are run by experienced and rather limited
women politicians; Mary Hanafin and Mary Harney. This year 2007 saw severe criticism
by anti-poverty groups of both departments in the wake of published OECD reports.
Ms Hanafin's department had a critical underspend which favours the private school
sector and Ms Harney's Department published a 2005 report criticising cancer care
without an operating link to the report in toto. http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84946

Small protests have occurred outside the Dail on cut-backs in funding for language immersion
programmes in Gaelscoils, whilst at one and the same time Ms Hanafin had cut the capitation
grants for Traveller's education leading to Manistreaming of the Kids. This season Ms Hanafin
had also stopped benefitting private schools with departmental funds, probably after it
became obvious that the critical underspend in building programmes was leading to a very
obvious run-down in the State School sector where basic hygeine and facilities in some
areas are amongst the lowest in Europe. I say this as a parent who is aware that many
kids I know cannot afford the 80 Euros fee for books and their peers are paying upwards
3,000 Euros for the privilege of an Irish education. There has been a complete lack of creative
forward planning in the Dept of Education that seems to undervalue natural ability in favour
of mainstreaming and preparing kids for the 'Knowledge Economy'

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84271

Fetac schemes are available to some kids who do not wish the academic route, with
little in the way of provisioning in apprenticeship schemes or learning supports at second level
for kids with intellectual disability: Resource Teaching is limited to one half hour per week
and educational psych tests are not correctly budgeted with many kids dropping out
or falling behind because of lack of supports. Not one Minister For education in ten
years has attended a Dyslexia Conference and principals are advising parents to contact
the Support groups to get educational psychological assessments. There are huge waiting
lists and tests can cost upward of 300 euros- without the tests kids to not get supports, exam time,
separate rooms and IT support.

Health:-

The OECD Report on health is at :- http://www.oecd.org

Related links:- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84946
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85041

The OECD reports demonstrate that their appears to be a classist perception of our kids
that not alone undervalues their individuality but their needs in terms of access to good quality
healthcare and education requirements. This half-cocked policy is supported and defended
by the Green party who Platformed John Gormley's defence of an inequitable health system
on the evening of the 28/11/07.

Frankly I am appalled.