An umbrella group representing education unions and parents has today called on the Government to increase funding for the sector in the Budget.
The Education Not for Sale group called on parents, students and education workers to join them in a protest outside the Dail at 4 p.m. tomorrow to draw attention to the underfunding of the sector.
Mr Paddy Healy, President of the TUI
Mr Paddy Healy, President of the TUI said: "We are very disappointed with the estimates. They do not offer any sign that the government is serious about putting resources into education. We are calling on the Minister on Wednesday to give a new priority to education with a strong focus on education disadvantage."
The President of the INTO, Mr Austin Corcoran, called for more funding for primary school children. "Half of all students are in primary schools yet the Government spends less than a third of the education budget on these pupils."
Funding is also required in the third level sector, according to USI President Mr Ben Archibald. He called on the Government to "fund Ireland's future."
"The much heralded increase in funding for third-level education contained in the Budget estimates is another example of a Government papering over the cracks in a system that requires major investment. The offer of a miserly 6 per cent increase will do little for colleges still struggling to cope with the previous year's 10 per cent deficit in funding," he said.
Mr Archibald said the fact that representatives from primary, secondary and third level had come together within Education Not for Sale was evidence of underfunding across the education sector.
According to Ms Marnie Holborrow, President of the SIPTU Education Branch, third-level education requires at least 12 per cent to maintain current spending demands.
"The estimates did not grant anything near that. This is a further cut in public funds for third level institutions which will mean lecturers and administration staff under unbearable pressure carrying out extra workloads and more cutting of corners for student services," she said.