Sir,
One of our correspondents on the 27th of March advocated for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to validate his position through the delivery of public service reforms, considering the proposed public sector wage package. However, regarding primary and secondary education, such suggestions seem profoundly disconnected from real-world conditions. For a substantial period, the education sector has experienced a severe crisis in teacher employment and retention, greatly undermining the provision of educational amenities.
Regrettably, the upcoming wage deal, much like its forerunners, will offer no remedy for this employment dilemma. It’s imprudent to demand enhancements in service delivery when staff recruitment is inadequate.
It is time we abandon recession-fuelled ideologies that seek cost-effectiveness in expenses, resulting only in less prosperous public staff. A transformed administration that properly represents the character of our economy must be set up promptly.
I propose a remodelling of Paschal Donohoe’s role as the “Minister for Public Sector Employment and Advancement”. Yours faithfully,
Sean Keavney,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.