Spending on education in the Republic is failing to keep pace with the dramatic increase in income, according to a new OECD report.
The report finds that while economic growth (measured by GDP) increased dramatically between 1995 and 2002, spending on education increased much less significantly.
The Republic had the highest level of GDP growth in the OECD during this period and overall spending on education increased by 40 per cent.
But the OECD's Education at a Glance also points out how the proportion of GDP spent on education during this period actually decreased by 0.4 per cent or more.
The report shows how investment at third level kept pace with the rate of economic growth but spending at primary and second-level was well behind the increase in GDP.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin last night pointed to the overall increase in spending while the INTO and the TUI highlighted the gap between economic growth and education spending.
The report also shows how teachers' pay in the Republic is broadly in line with the average across the OECD.
It also shows how primary teachers provide on average 37 weeks of instruction per year compared to the OECD average of 38.
But the gap at second level is wider with teachers here providing 33 weeks compared to the OECD average of 37.
Other features of the report include:
On spending, Ms Hanafin said: "We need to focus resources particularly at primary level, which is the area where expenditure compares least favourably with international comparisons."
This view was echoed by the general secretary of the INTO, John Carr, who said spending at primary level was falling in real terms, given the level of economic growth.
He said: "We are spending a far smaller proportion of government money on education than we did in 1995.
"Close examination of what happens within the overall education budget shows a massive disparity in spending. For every €4 now spent on a primary school pupil, Government spends €6 on each second level student and €10 on every third level student."
TUI president Paddy Healy said the report showed how teachers' salaries - as a proportion of national income - had dropped in real terms over the past decade. Pay levels here now rank 18th among 30 OECD states, he said.
The report also shows how some 40 per cent of the labour force in several OECD states take part in non-formal job-related education and training each year. By contrast, Ireland's level stands at just 14 per cent.
The report shows Ireland slipping further towards the bottom of the league in terms of funding per second level student, according to ASTI's general secretary John White.
The gross under-investment in second-level education in Ireland has resulted in Ireland coming 21 out of 27 OECD countries in the report, he said.
Two years ago the OECD report Education at a Glance placed Ireland 19th among OECD states.
"Clearly our Government is failing to value our young people," said Mr White.
