Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe today received a frosty reception at teachers' conferences he addressed.
At the 141st Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) Congress in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, about 50 people walked out as he entered the stage. A number of placards were raised during the speech, and the end of his address was met with silence.
During his speech, the Minister announced an €80 million investment programme in schools. The Summer Works Scheme announced today, is intended to allow schools to carry out small-scale repairs to buildings during the summer.
During his address to the 900 delegates Mr O'Keeffe appealed for national solidarity. "There’s no disagreement between us about the need for spending on education or for limiting as best we can the impact of cutbacks," he said.
The Minister said that education was one of the few areas where expenditure would be increasing this year and stated that the Government would be investing over €610 million on school buildings this year.
"All of the school building projects planned for tender and construction this year will be proceeding," said Mr O'Keeffe. "I want to emphasise that there will be an equitable spread of building works across the country under these programmes," he added.
Speaking at the second day of the conference this morning, Mr O'Keeffe said a further €20 million for energy conservation projects in schools would be provided as part of the new initiative.
The Minister also announced the introduction of a new pilot project aimed at replacing rented prefab accommodation with permanent buildings. Mr O'Keeffe said that the new project would be targeted at schools that have older rented prefabs and need long-term additional accommodation.
Mr O'Keeffe added that the Department of Education has also begun negotiations with suppliers over reductions in the cost of rented prefabs.
A spokesman for the Minister told The Irish Timesthat further details about the new scheme had yet to be confirmed but would be over the coming weeks and months.
The Minister also said that the Department of Education was in discussions with representatives from the pensions industry over the creation of a new fund for projects in schools, higher education and other public infrastructure.
In sharp contrast to the reception granted to the Minister for Education, INTO general secretary John Carr's speech was met with a standing ovation as he rounded on property speculators and sacrifices to the education sector.
Mr Carr said this year alone, teachers have seen their pay cut by seven per cent, taxes increased by five per cent, a pay deal reneged on, promotions embargoed and a pay award to principals sidelined.
"Teachers who had neither hand act nor part in the country's economic collapse bitterly resent 'having their pockets picked' to bail out bankers, speculators and developers," said Mr Carr.
He claimed that all around the world governments were moving to invest in education or at the very least, protect what had been built up. "The land of saints and scholars now sacrifices its scholars for its sinners," said Mr Carr.
"Where once young children paid to see a cowboy film, they now pay for the cowboys. Where once in Ireland young children could play; in today's Ireland they must pay," he added.
Also speaking at the conference, Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes welcomed Mr O'Keeffe's decision to seek a reduction in the cost of rented prefabs used as classrooms.
Mr Hayes said that at present 210 schools have annual prefab rental costs of over €100,000, while a further 184 schools pay €50,000.
The other main teaching unions, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), began their conferences this afternoon.
In his speech to the ASTI annual conference, in Killarney, Co Kerry, Mr O'Keeffe said a "time of unprecedented difficulties" meant there "can be no sense of business as usual".
"Last week, the Government introduced a supplementary Budget, the like of which most people have never seen before. Or ever thought would be needed. You're understandably angry about some of the decisions we've made. . . . but action was required in the national interest. Action that will secure Ireland's social and economic future."
The Minister said he was not underestimating the challenges that lay ahead but asked for delegates' co-operation "during these difficult times for our country".
"We've faced great adversity in the past. When we pull together in any walk of life, we can really punch above our weight.That's what we need to do now," Mr O'Keeffe said.
A small number of teachers also staged a walk-out at the ASTI conference in protest at Mr O’Keeffe, and and some held banners aloft during his talk protesting at Budget proposals, including the pension levy.
There was no applause when the Minister arrived.