ASTI urges €80m aid spent on special needs

A TEACHERS’ union has called for the €80 million spent by the Government each year for running costs at fee-paying schools to be used for special needs and tackling bad behaviour.

The Department of Education continues to pay teacher salaries and some building expenses at close to 60 private, second-level schools, with fees from parents being used to employ more teachers for smaller class sizes and to provide modern equipment and teaching materials.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin has indicated the practice will not be extended to any new fee-paying schools. But the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) believes the payments should be ended completely.