Segregation costing teachers fair pay

8.55.00pm GMT Fri 17th Nov 2006

Chair of Young Alliance, Ian James Parsley

Alliance Party Spokesperson on Youth Affairs, Ian James Parsley, has responded to concerns that pay levels are forcing teachers to look for work south of the border by saying that moves towards integrated education and integration of all public services would mean teachers could be paid a fair wage.

The North Down Councillor stated: "Reports through the week have illustrated that salaries in some occupations are almost twice as high in Dublin as in Belfast. Although this is offset by the cost of living, there is no doubt that in some professions many of our best people are looking at positions across the border. Teaching is one such occupation, and one where we simply cannot afford to lose our most talented professionals.

"This is primarily because we restrict ourselves in Northern Ireland by paying out rates and tax money to cover unnecessary duplication in public services along religious lines. £1 billion - more than the total we raise in rates, nearly three times what we would raise in water charges, and nearly the entire spend of the Department of Education - is taken from front line services because we choose to segregate our schools, leisure

facilities and health centres.

"Instead of heating empty schools, maintaining dilapidated buildings, and paying for twice as many bureaucrats, we should be investing directly in pupils and those who teach them - the teachers and their assistants. Devolution in Scotland has delivered a 35% pay rise to teachers. Under Alliance proposals to slash spending on segregation, we could afford similar here.

"Those promoting sectarian politics can talk all they like about 'more resources' for this and that, but when the four sectarian parties were last in Government they failed to make the books balance and ratepayers are now paying the price.

"In March the people will have a simple choice - money for segregation or money for pupils and teachers."

ENDS