Educational evolution - It’s time for a new round of benchmarking

Yesterday’s announcement by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn that 106 primary schools and 43 secondary schools will be built and that significant extensions will be provided for 114 other schools within five years is indeed welcome news.

Eight special schools will be built, while four others will be extended in a programme with a price tag of €1.5bn. Apart from the great social benefits of creating up to 100,000 school places, 15,000 construction-related jobs will be generated. These jobs are very, very welcome and the commitment to education — the only real, long-term response to our current difficulties — is a declaration of intent we should all support.

The sum of €1.5bn, even spread over the course of five years, is a considerable one if seen in the context of the €9bn-plus a year education budget. The difficulty in funding projects such as these is highlighted by the fact that 80% of this €9bn or so goes on staff costs. This 80% is ring-fenced by Croke Park until 2014, meaning Mr Quinn has discretionary control over just 20% of his budget.