Bus fee the main route to school economies

DESPITE lower-than-feared cuts to school staffing and funding, a range of smaller measures will have a major impact on education from next year.

Yesterday’s cuts amount to €76 million (giving Education Minister Ruairi Quinn a 2012 budget of €8.6 billion) and will rise to €157m in 2013 and €241m in 2014.

But he warned another €68m of savings would have to be made in 2013 and €138m more in 2014 to remain on target.