Stop setting education budget 'artificially low', INTO warns Government

'There will always be budget overruns when the percentage of the national budget set aside for education is lower than what is needed to run our schools properly,' said INTO general secretary John Boyle. Picture: Ray Ryan

Stop setting the budget for education “artificially low” then acting surprised when the figures don’t add up, the Government has been warned.

The message was delivered to Helen McEntee after she made her first address as education minister to the almost 1,000 delegates attending the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) annual congress.

The warning came following reports that the department of education has been told to curb potential overspending in some areas before committing to lowering primary classes even further.

“There will always be budget overruns when the percentage of the national budget set aside for education is lower than what is needed to run our schools properly,” said INTO general secretary John Boyle.

“Stop setting the budget artificially low and then acting surprised when the figures don’t add up. 

The government has committed to delivering class size reductions and this union expects this will be delivered, starting in the coming budget.

Falling enrolments present the best opportunity in decades to deliver smaller classes at no additional cost, according to Mr Boyle.

Ms McEntee told reporters class sizes are "the lowest they've ever been, but there's a very clear commitment to reduce it even further".

An occupational injury leave scheme for teachers has been finalised, the minister also confirmed, which she expects to publish the first week in May.

Following a motion held in private session and passed unanimously, the INTO is now to campaign for comprehensive reform of the current assault leave scheme for teachers.