Attracting absentee students to classroom

Revenue collected from contraventions to parents for failing to send children to school will be used by regional committees to initiate programmes attracting absentees back to the classroom, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said has told parliament.

He was winding up the debate in second reading of the Private Guards and Local Wardens Act (Amendment) Bill, which provides for the revocation or suspension of a local warden’s licence.

Dr Said accused the opposition spokesman on local government of suffering from PBS – the post-budget syndrome – following the Budget speech a day before it was announced that a budget of €32 million would be made available for local councils.

The government did not embark on local council reform for propaganda purposes but because it really believed in it. Local councils which presented projects and initiatives, irrespective of their political majority, had been given support by the government. Contrary to what happened under the 1996 Labour administration, the Nationalist government had always increased the budget for local councils.

Dr Said denied he had never mentioned that traffic contraventions would serve to finance local council initiatives. The regional committees had been set up to ensure that no abuses by local councils were committed under the Local Enforcement System (LES).

The government had introduced the enforcement system to educate and bring more discipline and order. This remained the aim today. Everyone recognised that there was more discipline on parking and driving rules today.

The LES was being administered by the five regional committees who had taken over enforcement from local councils.

Talks with the representative of local wardens had resulted in better pay and conditions of work. Eco wardens had different functions from local wardens and could not issue traffic contraventions. Expenses had been cut.

Dr Said said that a drop in the number of traffic fines meant that observance of laws was the rule. Fines also decreased under the speed cameras system.

Although the LES was to be self-sustained, the government was ready to finance any shortfall because more educated drivers would lead to less traffic contraventions. Local councils would earn 10 per cent from the fines paid in their offices to make up for administrative expenses.

The government was ready to present amendments on the functions of the board of discipline in committee stage.

The Bill was unanimously approved.