Education budget fails to address 'big issues', say teachers' unions

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland said their is no suggestion that the Government is serious about tackling the teacher recruitment and retention crisis

The expansion of free school books from primary and special schools to cover first, second and third-year students will bring the number of pupils availing of free school books to more than 768,000.

More than 200,000 pupils will benefit from the expansion of free school books to junior cycle students from next September, however, teachers' unions have warned that the budget failed to address the “big issues”.

The expansion of free school books from primary and special schools to cover first, second and third-year students will bring the number of pupils availing of free school books to more than 768,000.