Dempsey hiding real issues - Opposition

The Opposition has accused the Minster for Education, Mr Noel Demsey, of "hiding the real issues" surrounding the funding of education for disadvantaged groups.

Fine Gael and the Green Party were responding to the Minister's comments on RTÉ radio this morning, in which he claimed that his €42 million education package was more than he would have obtained under a fees scheme.

The problem is not that these people can't afford to go to third level - it's that they're not completing the Leaving Cert in the first place. Mr Paul Gogarty

Fine Gael and the Green Party claimed the real issue was not the provision of college fees but the funding of education at primary and second level.

The Green Party spokesman on education, Mr Paul Gogarty, branded the Minister's new education package "a red herring", and claimed that it had clouded the real issues.

"There have been no measures of significance to increase disadvantaged groups' participation at primary and second level. The problem is not that these people can't afford to go to third level - it's that they're not completing the Leaving Cert in the first place," he said.

Fine Gael's education spokesperson, Ms Olwyn Enright, also argued that the Minister had failed to "tackle disadvantage at pre-primary, primary and secondary level".

Earlier, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte attacked the Minister's claim that the €42 million he obtained was the best possible deal. Mr Rabbitte claimed the money represented the high price of saving Mr Dempsey's Cabinet position.

Fine Gael last night called off its planned campaign on the fees issue, following yesterday afternoon's press conference at which details of the new packages were announced.

Yesterday's announcement saw Minister Dempsey concede the return of student fees and the establishment of a new student loan scheme were off the political agenda.

It was also revealed that €12 million of a planned €15 million package to improve grants this year would come from Tánaiste Mary Harney's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The other €3 million would come from the Minister's own education budget.

This €15 million had not been mentioned in the official release confirming the full year cost of €42 million.