Primary schools received a substantial boost in the Department of Education's Estimates. The basic capitation grant per pupil will increase from £50 to £60, and will be supplemented by new capitation-based initiatives for science equipment and for pupils in infant classes. While teacher unions yesterday welcomed the increase in funding for schools' running and capital costs, they have not lifted their threat of industrial action over staffing levels.
The total amount of money allocated to the Department of Education has increased by 8.4 per cent overall - from £2,609 million this year to £2,830 million for next year.
The money available to primary and secondary schools for building and renovation has been increased significantly. Spending on building grants and capital costs for secondary schools will increase by almost £17 million to £58.8 million.
The amount of money allocated under this heading for primary schools will rise by nearly 40 per cent to £55 million.
The Department of Education would appear to have done well in negotiations with the Department of Finance in recent weeks, having reportedly started off in a weak position. But while the increase in the primary school capitation and building grants may improve the Government's relations with teachers, the INTO general secretary, Mr Joe O'Toole, said yesterday that his union had not ruled out further one-day strikes in individual schools to protest at staffing levels.
A Department spokesman said demographic factors would result in a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio this year.
Substantial increases under a number of headings will give the Department scope for spending initiatives in other areas over the coming year, particularly at third level. The grant for the running costs of the institutes of technology has increased by 20 per cent to £191 million, which will allow for improved facilities and a significant increase in student numbers in the institutes. Funding for third-level and further education will increase by over 10 per cent overall, when technical adjustments are taken into account.
At secondary level, capitation per pupil will increase from £177 to £184. The allocation for in-career development for teachers will go up by 18 per cent to £9.1 million, while the funding for primary-teacher training colleges not financed by the HEA will increase by 29 per cent to allow for increased intake.
Increases flagged in advance of yesterday's estimates include an additional £4 million for educational supports for children with special needs. The second instalment of the Education Technology Investment Fund will amount to £75 million, while the second tranche of the primary schools IT2000 fund will be £6 million. Under the Miscellaneous heading, £2.4 million has been allocated for projects relating to the peace process.
The Fine Gael spokesman for Education, Mr Richard Bruton, said the Estimates "would come as a bitter disappointment for those who expected significant measures to tackle educational disadvantage".
"The Minister for Education is making no provision for additional pre-school education and has not provided a single additional teacher, either to the primary or secondary school sector", he said.
Senator O'Toole of the INTO welcomed the increase in building funds for primary schools as "very heartening" and said his union was happy with the extra money allocated to in-service training for teachers. However, he described the increase in capitation grants as "just one small step on the way to bridging the gap between the grant given to primary schools and the actual cost of running them".
The ASTI expressed concern that staffing levels had not been increased. However, the ASTI's general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, said that the extra building funds provided for in the estimates would mean that "essential improvements" could be made and "science and physical education facilities can be brought up to acceptable levels".
The TUI welcomed the increase in education spending but said 100 extra teachers were needed immediately in "public sector schools".
