VTOS student cut 'denies second chance to many' – Rose Conway Walsh

Rose Conway Walsh

THE Government’s cut of €19.80 per week to students on VTOS means that many students who were failed by the education system the first time around will be denied a second chance, Sinn Féin Mayo County Councillor Rose Conway Walsh has said.

The allowance paid to students on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme who are long-term unemployed has been cut from €31.80 to €20 per week and their social welfare payment has been cut by another €8 per week, making a total decrease of €19.18.

Councillor Conway Walsh said:

This allowance was only a pittance in the first place and has not been increased in the last 25 years.

The cut will mean that many students who were failed by the education system the first time around will be denied a second chance.

She added:

Details of huge bonuses paid to senior personnel in Irish universities – including three presidents’ salaries paid in Limerick University at the same time in 2007 and 2008 – tells us that the Irish education system needs a total overhaul.

The people responsible for sanctioning these bonuses should step down and the salaries of people like Dr Hugh Brady, who earned €273,000 in 2007, must be cut.