More funds needed for college grants and special needs

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan will need extra funds by the year end to cater for more students qualifying for college grants and more special needs’ supports in schools.

She also told TDs and senators that just over €1bn provided for pensions of teachers and other school staff will fall short of what was needed, as it now appeared that 350 to 400 teachers more than provided for in the Department of Education budget are retiring this year.

In a briefing to the Oireachtas education committee, the minister said demographic pressures were also impacting strongly in spending on student supports. The 2015 education budget set aside €332m for student support, the bulk of it going on grants paid to students through Student Universal Support Ireland, which also pays the €3,000 fee for eligible students.