Wexford government TDs slammed for failure to support bill on small rural schools

Sinn Féin spokeperson for North Wexford Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin has slammed government deputies Brendan Howlin, Liam Twomey and Paul Kehoe for their failure to support The Education Amendment Bill which was debated in Leinster House yesterday evening (Wed.) Attending a protest outside of Leinster House to coincide with the bill Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said that it is "hypocritical for these deputies to feign concern for rural communities when they support cuts which will rip the heart out of rural Wexford. It seems to be a case of being the poacher when in the corridors of power in Dublin but acting the gamekeeper when here in Co. Wexford"

Speaking in the chamber on the Education Amendment Bill last night (Wed.) Sinn Féin T.D. and party spokeperson on Education Seán Crowe, highlighted the fact that 5 out of 8 Church of Ireland schools in the Diocese of Ferns may face closure if Minister Quinn isn't forced to back down. He also cited the example of Killegney Church of Ireland school outside Clonroche closing its doors last week after 107 years in existence despite a quarter of a million euro having been spent on its refurbishment just 2 years ago.

Referring to Minister Quinns cuts to small rural schools, Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, Drew Nelson, in a historic address to the Seanad this week stated that "the Protestant community actually fears for its continued survival as a viable, self-sustaining community,"