Teachers to get €240m salary boost

ALMOST half of the extra €544 million in current spending on the education sector will go towards pay increases for teachers.

Rises in pensions and salaries of primary, second and third-level staff will account for over €240 million of the Department of Education’s €7.1 billion budget for next year. While no job cuts are envisaged by Education Minister Mary Hanafin, there is no provision for extra teachers sought by unions to help cut class sizes.

Ms Hanafin has prioritised measures to increase inclusion of children and adults from disadvantaged areas, with an extra €47.6m bringing spending in this area to €462m next year. She said additional funding will go to early childhood education, literacy development, keeping young people at school and increasing student support measures at third level.