Education: The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) is to delay a decision about a strike after the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, secured €23 million for the primary school building programme.
Overall, the education budget is up by 12 per cent, well ahead of the general Government increase of five per cent.
But, like Government areas, education also sees increased charges with an €80 increase in the student registration fee at third level (bringing it to €750), and a €10 increase in the exam fee for the Junior and Leaving Certs.
At third level, the renewal of research funds is balanced by what university heads last night called an effective €55 million-plus cut in recurrent funding.
The INTO has been poised to unleash a series of one-day strikes across the State because of the poor condition of over 500 primary schools. But last night, a specially convened meeting of its executive delayed any decision on strike action, pending clarification from Mr Dempsey. In particular, the union wants to know how much money will be available for new schools.
The INTO said the increase provided is not enough to end the scandal of thousands of primary pupils attending schools in damp, cold and dangerous buildings.
At a press briefing, the Minister estimated that €50 million would be available in 2004 for new schools. He was also optimistic that the increased funding would allow him to make a "significant dent" on the 30 or so schools with the most urgent needs.
There was relief that the Minister managed to secure increases in the capitation grants for schools (up €10 per student for primary schools and €8 per student for standard second-level schools). This deal was secured at the eleventh hour by Mr Dempsey - the original Estimates reflected a freeze in capitation.
Last night, the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU) responded furiously to what it called effective cuts in day-to-day and capital spending.
"It is obvious that, for the second year in a row, the universities have been singled out for punitive treatment. No provision whatever has been made for benchmarking or other pay-increase costs. The effect is the equivalent of a €55 million to €60 million cut in university recurrent funding," it said.
CHIU said the €20 million increase in capital funding is insufficient to meet basic core requirements. "For instance, some universities are continuing to train science students in dilapidated laboratories on equipment that is over 30 years old. Equipment and maintenance grants were withdrawn completely last year. Try convincing prospective investors in the country that the graduates produced are top-class and leading-edge," it said.
USI education officer Ms Brighid Breathnach pointed out that the student registration charge has more than doubled since Mr Dempsey took office. "After the 2002 increase in the registration fee, Minister Dempsey assured USI representatives that any future increases would be in line with inflation. If he has reneged on this promise, how are students supposed to believe that the rumoured €1,300 registration fee is not still on the way next September?"
Mr Dempsey said he would make no apologies for the €325 million benchmarking payments in the Estimates. It was right that good teachers should be well-paid and the profession must continue to attract the best, he said.
ASTI president Mr Pat Cahill criticised the grossly inadequate increases in second-level funding. Schools have effectively experienced a substantial cut in the money available to meet their operational costs in the past two years, he said.
