Spiralling pupil numbers prompt fears for services

FEARS have been raised of further cuts to schools and college services as spiralling pupil numbers will require the employment of an additional 1,200 teachers in September.

Primary schools will have to cope with an estimated rise of 4,700 pupils to 510,300 and second-level student numbers are set to increase by 2,200 to above 314,000.

These changes will require 930 extra teachers in classrooms this autumn and add around €30 million to the Department of Education’s annual teacher salary bill.