Protecting small schools tops agenda at FF Education Conference - Troy

Posted by Robert Troy TD 25/06/2012

• Fianna Fáil has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting small schools against forced amalgamations and closures. The issue topped the agenda at the party’s National Education Conference in Galway at the weekend.
  
  ... More than 250 party members, education professionals and interest groups in the areas of childcare and mental health attended the event in Salthill on Saturday. The conference focused on protecting small schools, providing quality and affordable childcare for all families and tackling the growing prevalence of mental health problems among children.
  
  Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy has slammed the Government’s attack on small schools in the midlands and across the country.
  
  “Every single delegate who spoke at our conference at the weekend voiced their anger and concern about the future of small schools in rural communities across Ireland. There was a real sense that Minister Quinn has no concept that local schools are the heartbeat of so many communities and pursuing a policy that will result in forced amalgamations will have disastrous consequences for rural areas. As a former student of a small school myself I know their value and I have been fighting the government's flawed agenda locally and nationally,” said Deputy Troy.
  
  “Fianna Fáil strongly opposes these blunt and damaging cuts, which are based on pupil numbers alone. Every child has the right to be educated in their own communities, and this government will not get away with removing that right.”
  
  The Fianna Fáil conference also focused on the need to address the growing prevalence of mental health problems among children and teenagers, and the need to provide quality and affordable childcare for all families.
  
  Deputy Troy explained, “These are two issues that affect families right across Westmeath and Longford. There is still an incredible stigma attached to mental health problems and it can be particularly crippling for young people as they grapple with all the normal challenges of growing up. The discussion at the conference at the weekend focused on how the education system, right from primary school up to third level, can best respond to this.
  
  “In the area of childcare, I believe there are enormous economic and social benefits to investing in early education. Crèches, playschools and childminders are not just there to babysit children; they must also be about providing high quality learning for young children in an appropriate environment for their age. We need to work on ensuring that all families have easy access to quality early education and care that contributes to every child’s development.”