Ireland in ‘education relegation zone’

IRELAND’S failure to increase its spend on education, in line with the wealth generated by the Celtic Tiger, has raised strong criticism.

We spent just more per student in 2007 than the average developed country at primary, and 13% above average at second level, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

But the organisation’s latest publication on worldwide education statistics shows the €12,631 the Government spent for every third-level student, when research spending is included, was below the average in around 30 other developed countries.