Staff pay makes up bulk of €492m rise

INCREASED pay costs for teachers and other staff make up the bulk of the €492 million rise in Department of Education spending for next year.

The department’s 6% budget increase, to almost €8.9 billion, also allows for the full-year increase of 1,500 teachers provided this year to cater for increased enrolments, reductions in class sizes, teaching English to newcomer children and services for pupils with special needs.

The funding allocation, excluding provision for buildings and other capital services, includes almost €2.9bn for primary education, up 9% on this year’s spending estimate.