Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has been forced to abandon commitments in the programme for government on class size.
At a special post-Budget briefing yesterday, the Minister acknowledged the commitment to reduce average class size from 27 to 26 from next September could not be met given the prevailing economic conditions.
In response to the INTO's successful pre-election campaign on class size, the programme promised one teacher for every 24 pupils by 2010.
Asked if she was disappointed about the provision for education in the Budget, she said: "One thing I am is a political realist... we can only work with the money we have."
Education spending will rise by 8 per cent next year. However the Minister faces the challenge of meeting a range of pre-election commitments on class size and other issues while coping with a huge increase in school enrolment. Primary school enrolment is expected to increase by 13,000 next September, and by 100,000 before 2012.
These projected increases in enrolment and the tighter budgetary situation present a difficult challenge for the Minister.
At the briefing yesterday, the Minister promised 1,200 new teachers, mostly at primary level, from next September. About 600 of these will be needed just to cope with the increased enrolment. The Minister held out the hope that the additional 4,000 teachers promised in the programme for government would still be delivered by 2012.
She also highlighted the 21 per cent increase in funding for the teacher-training colleges, intended to expand places on the post-graduate course in primary teaching. There would, she said, be a plentiful supply of teachers and jobs for them all.
Of the €9.3 billion allocated to education next year, €4.6 billion is required to pay teachers' pay and pensions alone.
The Budget makes no provision for a further award from the benchmarking process due next month.
On school buildings, the Budget provides an extra €95 million for primary school projects within a total budget of €600 million.
The department is to abandon the Summer Works Scheme - it upgrades school facilities - and focus on providing extra school places in developing areas. This follows the controversy in September when children in Balbriggan, north Co Dublin, struggled to find school places.
Other main features include:
Day-to-day funding for primary schools will increase by €21 to €330 per pupil, while second-level schools will get an extra €20 per pupil;
Investment in special-needs education will increase by €80 million;
Capital investment for third-level colleges will increase by more than 20 per cent to €190 million.
In a further sign of changing economic times, core funding for the seven universities and 14 institutes of technology is increasing by just €61 million.
