12,000 rally in Dublin against Education Budget Cutbacks

national | education | feature

Thursday October 30, 2008 08:53

by Paula Geraghty, Andrew WSM, Richard Whelan and 1 of imc.ie

Observe the Children of Ireland, Marching Towards the Dáil

Thousands protested outside the Dáil against the government's education cutbacks.

Thousands protested outside the Dáil against the government's education cutbacks.
by Paula Geraghty mspgeraghty@yahoo.ie 0876101340

According to the Irish Times 'At least 5,000 teachers, parents and students gathered outside Leinster House this evening to express their opposition to Government spending cutbacks.' More like 12,000 according to organisers. The response to budget cutbacks have shaken the political establishent. Opposition though has been mostly sectional, first pensioners, later on the same day Students and tonight parents and teachers.

Tonight was different though - a huge trade union presence, and not just the teaching unions. SIPTU and Impact made themselves quite present. While most trade unions are out of kilter with public opinion just as they were with the Lisbon Treaty, recommending members to accept the pay deal, they are being pressured to offer opposition to the vicious cuts the Fianna Fáil/Green/PD government are imposing.

The INTO cancelled their protest which they had initially called for on October 4th. Tonight has proved that there is a huge appetite for demonstrating with protesters cheering even louder for speakers who pledged to keep the pressure and protests up until they got what they wanted.

A demonstration in Galway was announced for Saturday week.

Images (c)

Over ten thousand take part in anti-education cuts protest at Dail
by Andrew - WSM (personal capacity) Related Link: http://www.wsm.ie/education

Somewhere in the region of 15,000 people took part in the INTO protest at the Dail this evening. From the crowd it was obvious that as well as teachers many parents, secondary school puplis and college students had turned up to show solidarity.
The Gardai prevented access to Kildare street and the mounted riot police were on standby at the gates of the Dail. An elobarate filter barrier had been installed across the top of Kildare street.