14 November 2002

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Crowe - Cuts in School Building Disastrous

Sinn Fein spokesperson on Education Seán Crowe has expressed his outrage at the decision of Minister McCreevy to decimate spending on construction of education facilities at all levels, calling the cuts `disastrous'.

The Dublin South-West TD said: ``There are students who have been putting up with sub-standard schools across this state for far too long. Any one of a hundred schools in this state have their own horror stories. In my own constituency, St Kilians Junior School is condemned to continue with an asbestos roof, inadequate heating and poor quality buildings. It is the children of that school, and schools across the State which are crying out for assistance that are set to bear the brunt of McCreevy's cuts in education.

``Some of these cuts beggar belief. 24% has been cut from capital investment for universities and colleges, 33% from capital construction for ITs, 13% from research in universities and an incredible 81% from other capital projects. This government has clearly failed to prioritise education despite its oft-wished desire for a `knowledge economy.'

``The decisions of the Minister in respect of education are nothing short of disastrous and will have negative repercussions far into the future.''

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