Spending cuts: Support services in danger but teaching jobs secure

SUPPORT services for schools face major cuts but teaching jobs will be protected from the chop in December’s budget, Education Minister Mary Coughlan has indicated.

While hundreds of millions of euro are expected to be cut from its 2010 budget of almost €9 billion, the department faces a rising teachers’ pay bill next year because the Croke Park pay and reform deal means their salaries cannot be cut.

In addition, growing numbers of pupils will mean more teachers are needed , as the programme for government promises no further cuts to staffing levels for mainstream classes.