EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn has been urged to withdraw a threat to cut funding to the less well off in Donegal.
The call has been made by the chairman of Finn Valley College and local councillor Patrick McGowan.
It followed a statemenT from Education Minister Quinn who said it was ‘reasonable’ for County Councils to use the threat of withholding education grants as leverage over families unable or unwilling to pay the €100 Household Charge.
“This is a disgrace from a Minister who is suppose to champion education especially for the less well off ,” fumed Cllr McGowan.
“Education is the way all political parties point to Ireland in getting out of our present difficulties and high unemployment.
“The Minister has taken a seal of office from the President of Ireland and he has put party policies before his duty as Minister.
“I say to the Minister: what next? Will residents be refused access to medical care unless they have paid this €100 household charge?
“The late Sean Lemass TD, who has been contributed with advancing Education in Ireland and successive Ministers for Education, would surely have been dismayed at the attitude of Minister Quinn.”
Cllr McGowan that Fianna Fail Education spokesman Charlie Mc Conalogue was right when he said that grants play an important role in access to third level education for many thousands of less well-off families across the country.
“The funding for grants and an individual’s entitlement to apply for a grant has absolutely nothing to do with the Household Charge or indeed the local authorities.
“I am calling on the Minister to with withdraw this unprecedented attack on families in Donegal and elsewhere,” added Cllr McGowan.
