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LAST UPDATE | 21 Jan 2021
EDUCATION MINISTER NORMA Foley has said that unions have “refused to accept public health advice” that a return to special education teaching was safe.
Speaking in the Dáil earlier today, Foley said there has been “intensive engagement” with unions and other stakeholders about the planned reopening and that “agreed guidance” had been reached.
Last week, the government had announced that agreement had been reached to begin a phased return for special education beginning today.
On Tuesday of this week, the government abandoned the plans after unions said they opposed the move due to fears raised by parents and staff.
In a statement this evening, the Fórsa union said it wanted special education back “as soon as possible” but criticised “running commentary in the media”
Speaking yesterday, Foley said that unions would not “accept the expert public health advice being offered”. She reiterated those comments today and said that guidance had been agreed that would have allowed for special schools to operate at 50% capacity.
“Ireland is now an outlier in the European Union in not having in-person provision available for students with special educational needs at this time,” the minister said.
We addressed the concerns raised in relation to safety, including making public health officials available to education partner representatives and subsequently facilitating three of the most senior public health officials in the country to communicate directly with teachers and SNAs
“The department has consistently accepted and implemented the knowledge and advice and expertise of public health. This is the first time that unions have refused to accept that public health advice. We have provided guidance on how special schools can operate at 50% capacity, to offer these students a return to learning.”
“We have provided guidance and flexibility in relation to staff members who are at high risk of Covid-19 to ensure their safety,” the minister added.
Foley addressed the timeline of last week’s events when the government had announced the planned return of special schools from today.
Ahead of that announcement, the minister said she met with stakeholders including parents, teachers and management and that there was “a shared objective of a staged reopening”.
The minister said that following that announcement the department wrote to special schools and primary schools to address issues including safety, risk management and childcare.
Foley said that further engagement occurred and that guidance was “agreed” with unions the INTPO and Fórsa.
Foley also said that over 16,000 people including teachers and SNAs attended a webinar last week in which public health doctors said that schools are safe places “because of the mitigation measures now in place”.
In a statement this evening, Fórsa said that it had resumed engagement with department officials this afternoon and that it noted comments from the minister that the government was seeking a return to special education as soon as possible.
The union said it shared this goal:
Fórsa will continue to work with the education department towards the resumption of these vital services in the shortest possible time-frame compatible with the safety of students and staff. To this end, the union said it had resumed engagement with education department officials this afternoon.In a communication to its members earlier today, Fórsa said: “It’s our intention to continue to explore realistic measures to improve safety provision and re-build confidence, just as we were doing prior to the government’s announcement on Tuesday.
It said the union’s assessment was that this re-engagement would most likely produce a timely and successful outcome if it was conducted on a focused and professional basis, rather than through a running commentary in the media.
Criticism
The minister was criticised by spokespersons from the opposition, with Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD saying that “any time the minister or junior minister gets an opportunity to speak about the issue she only makes things worse”.
“You have the audacity minister to stand there and tell us that unions are not following the public health advice when your own government didn’t do that in December,” Ó Ríordáin said.
The Labour deputy also said that the minister was attempting to have people pick sides in the debate.
In response, the minister said: “You have made the assertion that I have attempted to encourage people to pick sides. I make no apology, I pick the side and I will continue to pick the side of children with additional needs. They are my first priority.”
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said he was “disappointed” with this response:
“I was really disappointed when you said that yes you’ve chosen to pick a side and you’re on the side of children who are most vulnerable, because in that binary you give the impression that there are those of use who are not, and in particular those who are asking to be safe upon their return to the work.”
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Just how long is “temporary” supposed to be ?
All lies for election time
I mean what have the Romans ever done for us?
Whatever happened to his contract to the people of Ireland?
Seizmic shift my arse.
Kenny is beyond help.
Just in! SF say they have located the leprechauns gold at the end of the rainbow and plan to tax this treasure, according to SF’s finance spokesman the revenue collected would easily cover the cost of scraping IW and the USC in the very first year of taxation, there has being no conformation or denial from the leprechaun community at this moment.
Enda is saying the government are “committed to abolishing USC over time” .. few months back we had Minister for Finance Michael Noonan saying.. “the USC charge is not likely to be abolished because it takes in too much cash” (around 4-5billion a year) Conflicting stories… More lies!!!
The more we start to earn the more energy suppliers, banks and food chains are going to want a bigger slice of the pie
I for one will be very happy , that roughly €1.15 to add to the €2.41 in the last budget , you know the one we all phoned Enda expressing our gratitude
Any time earlier than forever.
Look at the picture above
Imagine you are a German or French Banker
Now think – “Is this is all they have? this is going to be too easy !”
Time for Change – No ?
Would Paul Murphy organise a peaceful; resistance to the power of the banks and the Troika ?
That’s the way you have to start thinking on this one for the benefit of society as a whole …
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
this is another piece of rubbish to entice the voter just like the 100 “grant” iw used to entice the public
pure lies and electioneering, lets have the other side of the electioneering please,
start with Catherine murphy and siteserv and run it along any piece with the gombeens picture and his announcements of what might happen in the future
That poster behind him says it all, equality for everybody.
Another FG Labour stunt.
Paul Murphy = Greek approach. Lets see how that works for them and comment again. Like them or hate them. FG/Lab have done what they were elected to do. Restore the public finances, create jobs, and nurture growth.
They were voted in to do that – they were voted in to burn the Bondholders and now the I.M.F are coming out and saying they were red rotten useless in that task
Had they done the job they were supposed to do then they would still be high on the polls – the bondholders would still be loaded and everyone would be happy = Like Iceland Now !
And then we see Siteserv and the Minister for Finance misleading the Dail …
Merrill Lynch must still approve of End ain his job – giving cover to bankers who broke the country and kept their jobs ….
Keep digging Catherine Murphy …keep digging – stay where you are Enda there’s much more to come !
“They weren’t voted …
Another thing the Trichet letter is enough to sue the European Central Bank and the I.M.F. are our Star witnesses …..
The greeks got 2 billion in unused structural funding – (could have been used to fix our leaks under the E.U. agreement and no need for Irish Water if Enda was doing his job ) , that is more than our clowns ever got by not asking.
Amazing. A whole 4 quid barely a week
I think we should be protesting against USC over water charges.
Stephen if the Water Charges were introduced before the USC, people would be out protesting the USC, Irish Water was the final straw.
I’d rather take on IW than revenue
Very good point Denis.
I’d rather own IW and take on Revenue – you mean, Mr. Denis O’Brien …
Ends will be looking forward to a phone call from the same guy that called him last year to ask if there was a mistake in his wages.
Which one, the one with two pints?
or he overheard on the bus hahaa
Wow an extra €2 or €3 let’s get the holiday plans moving
Sure we will all save the price of two mars bars a week but the criminals in government will impose or increase some other form of theft to get it.
See the face on Kenny? He’s thinking “yeah, yeah I know how to tax the arse off dem slaves to get me money back”.
Remember this. If the criminals give it out with one hand, they take it back with the other.
“The lord giveth, the government taketh away” – Bumper sticker from the 70s.
That’s your water charges paid for , it’s only 3 quid a week .
Cram, we’ll all be able to afford a couple of Mars bars a week yes, but don’t forget FGs way…… Sure lads here’s some cash for a Mars bar, by the way we’re going to introduce a sugar tax
after they tip off a certain person off who will unwittingly buy a company who supplies the sugar and land in clover AGAIN. but hey no laws broken so no problem?
Anthony Gore
Add it all up for a few million people, I would not give this lot the pleasure of fooling everyone for €Billions, let them get an honest job.
Enda has said a lot of things regarding these matters & hasn’t stuck with one. I won’t be holding my breath
Is it election time already? Fine Gael puts out a little bait on fishing line trying to get a few votes. Well I am not biting into this bullplop. Unless they abolish water charges and household tax then no votes from me or my other humans.
What a f€&kin picture,I’m just after spewin up my lunch,thanks journal
Peter,that picture had a different affect on me- It made my blood boil !!!!!
To me he just looked like kute hoor culchie or the cat who got the cream.
I feel like puking now.
Wait, I though we had took in an extra €1.5b this year, so why do we even still have USC? It was supposed to be an emergency charge.
Cue FG supporters telling us how great Enda is giving back some of the money he forced from our pockets.
Not quite, it replaced the income levy, I think that was the original emergency levy. Would like to see it reduced but it is a useful tax as it looks like they will keep the higher rates for higher earners and reduce the rates for lower paid workers. Looking at income taxes (income tax, USC and PRSI) as a whole they are hardly draconian. An employee on 18k loses less than 4%. 25k, less than 15% and 35k just under 20%. Would still like to see a reduction though!
The USC is also handy as the normal tax loopholes don’t apply to it.
@Gearóid in the interest of fairness and the truth – who introduced the USC?
USC has taken in €15billion since 2011. Not exactly easy to scrap.
Reg
and why did Enda take the €5000 off the disabled transport grant,? And give me this shit about the EU Court case.
Endoff Kenny #siteserv
These promises remind of the bullshit promises I used to make to my mother so I could stay up late to watch mcgyver on a school night. Hopeful but not effective.
Will budget 2016 come after the next election? If so its just another election promise to be broken. If its before the election then its just a stunt to get elected beford they introduce a raft of new taxes to get it back with interest. Beware of Fg.
Now we are familiar territory, getting re-elected, the only event they are truly qualified at organising. Every other aspect of Irish life is just collateral damage.
Never ceases to amaze how they say no such cuts like this can be made during their early years in government. Now miraculously with an election looming, low and behold it’s an easy fix. Does FG/Lab really believe that the people of Ireland are stupid ? Do they really believe they can scam them again ? It’s far too little too late, they’ve been both a disaster in government and have for years had no real mandate to govern. They are both heading for a bad beating in the next election, especially Lab who was supposed to be keeping watch for the ordinary man/woman in the street.
It would have been irresponsible for the Gov to reduce the USC by these rates during 2011 -13 period as the money wasn’t there and the economy couldn’t handle that loss to the exchequer. The economy is improving, more people are at work and more money is coming in which means that now there is more scope for tax cuts such as this.
Earlier on when the IMF were here you mean?
Yes, they do believe that the people of Ireland (not just Ireland, anyway) are stupid. And, in fact, when election results come, you’ll see there are hundreds of thousands of stupid voters. So they do well treating voters like stupid individuals, many are.
you do know we are still in a bailout program. people seem to forget this just because the IMF are not staying in our luxury hotels free of charge every 3 months.
Good man Al…anyone who doesn’t vote as you think we should vote is ‘stupid’.
@fozz im sure Al was talking about FG and anyone that does vote to reelect them are muppets also those who want to vote FF. Its suicide.
Al Fonso
You should know, your one of those “stupid” you speak of. You jumped on the SSM government band wagon, helping the same government you are complaining about to gain a cheap populist vote of confidence, not even 1,000 couples in civil partnerships in Ireland at present, that’s about 0.0025%.
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/the-operation-called-engineered-consensus_042015
Your living proof of what you say, you would jump on any old band wagon that you think may make you popular with the herd.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/06/24/majority_of_military_sexual_assault_victims_are_men_now_that_the_focus_isn.html
You should not insult yourself, it is never too late to wake up to what the government is doing to you.
This extra tax was supposed to be “temporary”, as was the extra public service only paycut “pension levy” that is additional to public sector workers pension contributions. Get rid of the temporary taxes or hello Independents in 2016.
Where is the Fennelly report ???
Its under a leg of Endas desk correcting a slight wobble.
You have asked that question a number of times, Tony – no reply from anyone. I also feel that the report should be published now – as per Indah’s pledge.
If you sweep enough crap under the carpet then eventually you won’t be able to go out to the toilet and then you are in a shitpile of your own making ……
In the next budget they will “cut” it haha no Edna we want it abolished and you and your party banned from politics.Same goes with labour and the other idiots.
Well that makes sense – ban all political parties except for… oh i see. Of course.
Yep, I don’t like Party X so I want them banned.
What can possibly go wrong with such a mechanism!
Don’t forget to list what schools, or portions of the health service you want abolished also. Need to find the 4b from USC somewhere else, or stop spending it. Wouldn’t want you to come across as an idiot.
Ironic really isn’t it? The healthcare system is still lacks funding yet they want to cut the USC? Work that one out.
Perhaps if the government corrected their excessive spending then perhaps the healthcare system may improve?
I would like to see Fine Gael / Labour / Finna Fail dismantled indeed.They have shown utter incompetence through the years and such ignorance should be gone from politics.They have quite evidently shown that their proposed policies have no being met.
Well said Negativebird.
I support the USC as it means virtually all people earning money pay some tax. It is good to spread the burden. I am in favour of progressive taxation but disagree with extortionate income taxes on relativity modest incomes. The top rate of tax kicks in at far too low a level, perhaps we should have a third rate of tax at say 32% rate and then let the 40% rate kick in for incomes above €100k.
Wow an extra €2 or €3
and if you don’t pay your water charges you actually get to keep that money
Denis O Brien advocating non payment of water charges – That’s me sold
Well done to Leon Farrell on capturing the soul of the subject.
Well that’s just fantastic. And the money I’ll save can go towards paying for the new water charge. :-(
When you actually add up the taxes brought in by this government, added to the taxes that always existed, it shows how most households of the working class really struggle. Even crunching the USC numbers added to property tax, soon to be water charges, pension levies, prsi, motor tax, fuel tax, vat etc. The ordinary person takes a huge hit before they have a chance to spend hard earned wages even on utilities and mortgage payments. Along with standard of living still being pretty high compared to other countries it just shows WE turned this economy around and NOT those clowns in the Dail. No matter how much they say they done what other parties can’t or won’t be able to do.
Because we let them, any other Country would. Have been out protesting on every street.
We seem to sit back and do nothing, now that we know what we are up against we have to stand together so that any government that gets in will not try the same s..t.
That a fact von. Hopefully every politician knows now we won’t be pushed around and every sneaky deal WILL be questioned
Enda smarmy phecker gets on my nerves
So higher earners will be better off than lower paid. Am I reading that right.
Some who is a higher earner than somebody will be better off, should they be worse off?
Low income people already pay very low taxes on income. A single employee on 18k loses less than 4% in all income related taxes. (income tax and USC). They are exempt PRSI.
The top 6% of earners already pay 25% of all income taxes.
Thanks reg .
Of course, Reg wants you to ignore the effect of tax on disposable income.
The phrase “working poor” springs to mind.
And? Try vat on practically everything on that income for example. There’s a reason v low incomes have less taken at source.
I agree everyone on a wage pay something.
Citizen S©
Wrong ! People like D O’B don’t pay tax, the multi nationals pay next to nothing, they use the excuse of ” Intellectual Rights “.
It is interesting how they do it, it is even more interesting how the government stays silent about it, none pay 12.5% tax.
So if they cut the USC rate by 2% you get approximately twice as much back than if they cut it by 1%?
Sign the contract , see my six point plan , see the shiny trinkets .
USC on pensions is robbing the poor to give to the rich…
Was waiting for some eejit to complain that the higher paid benefit most from a tax cut. Looks like we have a winner
There’s no shortage of them here!
75/25000*100 =0.3
525/70000*100=0.75
Reg
and why did Enda take the €5000 off the disabled transport grant,? And give me this shit about the EU Court case.
An election promise, FG/ACA have never broken one those before.
Their not buying my vote. They made promises last time and broke them. Why would I fall for that again. No way
erm… agree with you, but this one is for something to happen before the election…
A tiny amount of money being returned is no cause for celebration – it’s an insult to all workers. If Enda & co think this minuscule reduction in USC will sway voters he is not fit to lead his party let alone this country but we know that already anyway. Clowns.
I don’t get the 2016 costs and full year costs, surly 2016 will be counted as a full year?
I also suspect that a blanket cut won’t happen but different brands up to 70,000
Is that a photo of Harold Steptoe (Wilfred Bramble), Hugh?? What has he got to do with my wages?
In one hand out the other ..they will take it back off us with the new media licence thingy …plus more prob .
It’s time to get rid of the deficit, cut public sector pay and social welfare now.
Public sector pay? do you know over 75% of public sector employees earl less than 35K perannum
Link needed please.
There would be no deficit if we had’nt bailed out bankers and bondholders but hey let’s pick on the most vunerable in society not every one is on welfare through choice but hey
There wouldn’t be any deficit if we didn’t overspend on social protection and public sector pay
CitisenSmith©
Its best to strike at the root and get rid of the spongers in government.
Ray Farrely
There would be no deficit if the government had to work for their wages, they would not be so eager to be giving other peoples money away to their pals and the bankers.
OK,
The science bit?
A person earning €25,000 would be €75 better off annually
A person earning €35,000 would be €175 better off annually
A person earning €50,000 would be €325 better off annually
A person earning €70,000 would be €525 better off annually
75/25000*100 =0.3
525/70000*100=0.75
Is this progressive?
Paul you didn’t take into account the 17600 (approx) threshold. If you remove that from the total earnings the savings all work out at 1%.
Cyril,
Please explain how the threshold is relevant.
The simple calculation shows that the better paid will be twice as well off.
Surely progressive tax cuts would reverse that pattern of benefit?
Paul,
The threshold when taken out shows everyone is benefiting to the tune of 1% of their chargeable income. I know this means some will save more than others but where you would draw the line and reverse that pattern of benefit.
Last time when they tinkered with the USC thresholds and rates at the lower end, they increased the rate from 7 to 8% for everything over €100K, which cancelled out any gain for top earners. I suspect they may do the same again this time.
I don’t see the USC being cut by 1%, it will cost too much, if they only have €750M to distribute in tax cuts. I suspect 0.5% wool be closer to the mark.
Paul you are making yourself look stupid here. The first 17,600 EUR earned is exempt for everyone from the USC. Therefore you should not include it in your calculations. So you should be dividing (25,000 – 17,600) by the annual savings to get the % USC reduced for the low income example. Likewise it’s (70,000 – 17,600) divided by the annual saving shown to get the actual % USC reduced for the higher income example. Does that answer your question?
Cyril,
This is supposed to be a tax cut, not a tax levy.
There are many other ways of adjusting tax take, but FG are making it clear from whom they are trying to buy their votes.
Pepper,
Not truthfully.
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/usc/
Cut the public service pension levy. I contribute to a PS pension and I also pay a pension levy on top of that. My pension levy is nearly 200 euro a month! That 200 would cover a week in a creche for my child.
How does your contributions compare to the payout you receive in retirement? Is it much higher than having to buy the equivalent private pension yourself (genuine question)?
I have no idea what payout I will receive. I have never really understood pensions (I should probably look into this…). All I know is that I contribute the same amount as my private sector partner, approx 5-6 per cent.
There are many public service organisations that fought to be exempt from the levy as they had their own pension funds (like mine) and got the exemption. My company didn’t argue and the levy was imposed on all of us, even though we have our own pension fund.
If I have to pay the extra 200, I’d rather have that go into my pension pot than let the government take it as another tax. 200 is a lot of money for the average public servant.
Believe it or not, pension related deductions amount to 12-14% of your gross wage per month if you are a public sector worker. The pension LEVY does not count towards your pension like your pension contribution, superannuation does.
It is in effect, a sectoral tax, which is actually illegal. It is a paycut named something else, something palatable that the general public would like. Name it the “pension” levy, throw out a load of spin about public sector getting “gold plated” pensions, and hey presto! all the “public support” you could dream of.
The public sector pension levy absolutely has to go. Or else make pension contributions voluntary-as they are in the private sector.
I am a low paid worker, and to be honest i would just prefer they concentrate on scrapping water charges then USC, i know its a pain in the neck, but the water charges are going to cost more in the long run! So stop trowing us temporary tokens that will be taken back instantly if re-elected, and do something the people want!
Oh that smirking, bloody face!
This rat would do anything to stay in power.
Was Enda’s lips moving when he said this? Remember when he went on TV to tell us it was not our debt?
Killing socialism by kindness. Shinners and assorted lefties enraged that bismarks strategy will sink them.
Bismarck – created the welfare state in Germany
Kenny – destroying a welfare state for Germany
Yep, great comparison.
Lol. Typical. Hopefully when gerry gets in, we can tax the rich and all live on the pigs back. Fingers crossed eh chief apologist?
If only kenny would destroy the welfare state in Ireland. Glad to see you finally admitting Ireland is a welfare state though Jammin.
The banks created the welfare state when they blew the property market to bits …
The Irony is that they are now communist themselves as they are owned by the State – the citizens now own each other’s mortgages …
Irish banking needs to get rid of the capitalist bankers and adopt a more localised Credit Union approach with the State banks …
If you are paying a mortgage to a Sate owned bank then you are at the same time under the Constitution paying revenue to the government – The Article is very clear from any source whatsoever – mortgage paid to state owned is money paid to the State…
We cannot sell the taxman and now for the very same reason we cannot sell the Banks –
This is why the Irish Constitution is considered one of the finest legal documents ever written – It protects the citizens from too much outside influence and too much internal tyranny !
Er, being a welfare state isn’t a bad thing. What’s the point of paying tax at all if there’s no support system if you find yourself in difficulties due to circumstances beyond your control? If you don’t provide welfare, you can’t complain when there’s a crime spree as the poor try to feed their kids.
Pepper Brooks
Your right, the government needs to be put to work, maybe a job bridge, or McDonalds.
It would be good for the nation to see them doing an honest job for their wages.
Lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies. Vote me vote vote me vote me. Then more lies lies lies lies lies. But the red thumbers will lap it up. Well red thumbers you know where to shove your red thumbs, up your own a*#e. If you vote him in again, in 18 months you will yet again be in the place we are now. I am actually sick of how gullible some Irish people are. TIME FOR CHANGE
Kenny the clown, cut usc and increase water charges to cancel it out, cant wait to see the back of that creep.
I don’t care what he does, its just show to be reelected he can stand on his head speak in Russian for all i care, i will not vote for FG never did never will, too much os a sleeveen for my liking.
Roll on 2016 to get them out.
That’s better than a kick in the bum!
Well that depends on if your in a high income or low income
Sorry couldn’t believe this mans lies. Fool me once etc etc… Cut it this year before the vote, not that I’ll be voting for fg or lab anyway.
I love the wording “we will cut the 7% USC in Budget 2016″, so he’s not saying they will abolish it next year but he mentions “7%” to make you think he’s talking abut the whole thing, all the while he’s giving a non committal figure which will likely actually only be a measly 1% AFTER they are re-elected and we are stuck with them. Go and screw yourself Kenny you pompous tw@t.
Smug fukwit
Enda Kenny is a sick man!
Wipe that smirk off his face with a no in endas referendums, it will force a GE,guaranteed.
one way of doing it.
Oh here come the broken promises just in time for the election. What an arrogant pri_ck! General election can’t come soon enough.
Nothing to do with election spin, nope! Giveth in one hand and chop the other off!!
Electioneering trash…
have your say