No severe education cuts - Ryan

GREEN PARTY Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan has said he is “confident” the budget will not contain severe education cuts.

Mr Ryan indicated that Fianna Fáil shared the Greens’ view that the education sector should be protected in as far as was possible.

“We don’t believe it’s the time for severe cuts in education. I think actually one of the strengths of this country is that we’ve invested in education over the years,” he said.

“I’m confident . . . we can give a direction, in a difficult budget at a difficult time, that actually it’s still the right thing to invest in our younger people.”

Mr Ryan’s party colleague Paul Gogarty yesterday warned a cut in class sizes was “non-negotiable”. He said a rise in registration fees was “unavoidable” but they should not go beyond €2,000.

“This year, in the light of the huge economic pressures we face, a rise is unavoidable. But talk of an increase to €3,000 or even €2,500 is untenable and would have an immediate negative impact on student participation and on struggling families already hit in other ways. We believe that €2,000 is a more realistic figure,” he said.