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.

While some of the funding will be allocated under an action plan on disadvantage to be announced soon, Ms Hanafin announced a 40% increase for early literacy programmes, 35% extra for school libraries and an extra €1.3 million - or 20% - for the National Educational Welfare Board.

She has also secured a €67 million increase to help students with special needs and disabilities, providing €628 million to allow for increased numbers of resource teachers, special needs assistants and transport services.

The Conference of Heads of Irish Universities warned the 6% increase - they sought a 9.5% rise - for current spending would mean more cutbacks in services and worsen their mediocre international standing. CHIU director accused Michael McGrath accused the Government of ignoring the recent OECD report on third level education, which recommended a quantum leap in funding.

However, Ms Hanafin rejected the claim and said the extra €40 million should help them meet their costs.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) welcomed significant increases for special education and educational disadvantage but said they must be put to maximum use on early childhood education and targeting literacy difficulties. The union said the €12 per pupil - or 10% - increase in the capitation grant would not cover spiralling costs of insurance, heating and maintenance.

A €26 increase in capitation funding for voluntary secondary schools was welcomed by the Joint Managerial Body which represents their managers, but general secretary George O’Callaghan said a wide gap remains between their funding and that of vocational, community and comprehensive schools.

Teachers Union of Ireland president Paddy Healy said the overall 8% increase in education funding would barely raise it to 4.2% of national income, which he said was pitifully below the OECD average of 5%.

The Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) welcomed the priority given by the minister to increased leadership training for principals, in a record €23 million budget for professional development of teachers.

Overseas Aid:

Development aid to overseas’ countries rose by €60 million to €460m.

Ireland’s full amount will rise to €535m when contributions from other departments and state agencies are factored into the Foreign Affairs’ allocation.

“This is the highest amount ever allocated in the history of the aid programme,” said Minister Dermot Ahern.

“Ireland can be proud of its development aid record.”

But Oxfam Ireland’s Dr Brian Scott summed up the feeling of aid agencies when he accused the Government of “betrayal of the world’s poor”.

The Taoiseach had promised 0.7% of GNP by 2007 towards overseas aid, which would have meant an increase yesterday of an additional €185m to keep Ireland on track to that target.

Defence:

Major equipment purchase programmes, including the acquisition of two light utility and four utility helicopters, will proceed in the year ahead, Defence Minister Willie O’Dea said.

His total spend for 2005 is €738,932, up 6%.

Reflecting reduced expenditure on hearing loss claims, the provision for compensation falls from €24m this year to €14m in 2005.

The minister was confident the budget would ensure further progress on the Defence Forces’ building and modernisation programmes.

He also plans to initiate a programme for the acquisition of light tactical vehicles.

Tourism:

8% increase in the tourism budget to €123m next year.

Marketing fund increased by 14% to €35.78m.

Fáilte Ireland’s budget is up by a further €3.6m.

140,000 people employed in the key sector.

Minister John O’Donoghue said the increased level of funding will permit implementation of many of the recommendations in the Tourism Policy Review Group’s 10-year strategy up to 2012.

Arts:

Arts Council budget rises by 16%, increase €61m.

Minister O’Donoghue said he intends to announce the preferred new location for the Abbey Theatre by this year end. He yesterday restated the Government’s commitment to commission, design and construct an enhanced and modern theatre.

Drugs:

Spending on the National Drugs Strategy will go up by almost one-fifth next year under an estimates programme that targets the rolling out of local drug task forces beyond the main cities.

The €31.5m budget is an 18% increase on the €26.7m available in 2004 and while the greatest rise is in the area of day-to-day funding for existing services, there is also provision for capital investment in new sports and leisure facilities for communities at risk.

Key areas to benefit from the increase will include the 10 new regional drugs task forces which were set up in each of the health board areas last year and are due to present their long-awaited action plans to Government beginning in the next few weeks.

Formed on the model of the 14 existing local task forces, 12 of which are in Dublin, one in Cork and one in Bray, the new regional bodies were asked to identify gaps in services and facilities in their plans.

Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Noel Ahern, said yesterday he expected to start funding their proposals by next summer using the additional money provided in the Estimates.