DAIL PROTEST AGAINST CUTS TO GALWAY RURAL SCHOOLS

Date Published: 31-Jan-2012

Parents and teachers are to protest in Dublin tomorrow evening against planned staffing cuts to small rural schools in Galway.It follows the government's decision to increase the pupil teacher ratio as part of cost saving measures.The demonstration is to be held outside Leinster House where a Fianna Fail motion to reverse the planned budget cut is to be voted on.Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin says the government needs to consider the vital role rural schools play in their community.Local groups will travel from Ballinasloe, Athenry, Gort and Clifden as well as areas in Donegal, Mayo, Kerry and all along the western seaboard for tomorrow evening's protest.Joe Killeen is Principal of Lough Cutra School in Gort and a member of the INTO Central Executive Committee for Galway and Roscommon.He says protestors will be urging Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to rethink his decision and find cost savings elsewhere.