Education funding - Savings must start at the very top

THE provision of special needs education supports (SNAs) in primary and second level schools have made it possible for many students to reach levels they might otherwise have found difficult.

The relatively recent development has been life-changing for so many. It has given a degree of independence and possibility to so many individuals and families that the facilities must be at least protected. It would seem almost inhuman to deny the option from those who might benefit from it, yet that seems a real possibility.

Yet thousands of special needs students may have their access to teachers cut because demand has been underestimated and recruitment limits agreed as part of the IMF/EU rescue package are about to be reached.

Earlier this week Education Minister Ruairí Quinn warned that there can be no increase in teacher numbers. Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Quinn said that the State could not afford to employ any more teachers. He did point out though that there are 10,575 whole-time equivalent posts in the SNA area and that unlike other areas in the public service vacancies up to that number are being filled. Mr Quinn insisted that if these resources were carefully managed there should be sufficient posts to provide access to SNA support for all children who required it. This argument cannot be dismissed until it is proved wrong and that has not happened yet. We don’t have more money to throw at the problem, but maybe there are ways to make better use of the resources dedicated to education.

Over 75% of the €8.59 billion spent on education every year goes on pay or pensions. Regrettably Ireland has one of the lowest education spends in the OECD and is well behind our economic competitors when education funding is measured against GDP. Though we don’t spend enough on education we can’t, for the moment at least, spend any more.

Allied to this there is a feeling that reforms agreed under the Croke Park agreement are not progressing fast enough or delivering savings on anything like the scale needed. The Department of Finance has warned that proposed Croke Park education reforms will generate only about €39 million in savings. This represents less than 0.5% of education spending. This seems totally inadequate to the day’s challenges and may be one of the reasons for this week’s warnings about pay cuts.

This situation points again to the unacceptable inequities fanning the flames of the anger simmering away about our economic difficulties. Some people, the most vulnerable, may lose the vital, life-changing services, while others at the opposite end of the spectrum enjoy pay levels that would still be very attractive, even if they were cut by 20%.

We cannot cut education services to the weakest before those best in a position to endure significant pay cuts do so. Not only would it be stupid, it would be immoral.