School-age report 'not based on current proposals'

The Department of Education is today hitting back at reports that sweeping changes could be on the way to the education system.

It has issued a statement, in which it says a newspaper report today is based on "historic documents that were obtained while the previous government was in power".

The article, in the Irish Independent, suggests cost-cutting measures are being considered, in an effort to shave money of the €9bn annual education bill.

Proposals listed in the piece include holding children back from school until they are five, scrapping transition year and reducing grants and scholarships.

However, the Department of Education says no decisions have been taken and the article is not based on current proposals.

It adds that work on budget matters is continuing.

"No decisions whatsoever have been taken in relation to changing the school going age of children or abolishing the transition year," said the statement from the Department of Education.

"Today’s article in the Irish Independent is based on historic documents that were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. They relate to options put forward by the Department of Education as part of the Estimates process under the previous Fianna Fáil/Green Government.

"The article is not based on current proposals by the Department of Education and Skills as part of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review.

"Work on the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) is currently ongoing across all Government departments, including the Department of Education and Skills. Under the CRE all areas of public expenditure are subject to scrutiny.

"The CRE will be a critical building block in formulating Government’s budgetary policy for 2012 and beyond and the results of the Comprehensive Review process will be brought before Government for consideration and decision in the Budget and Estimates process later this year."