The Minister for Education and Science, Mr Noel Dempsey TD, tonight announced an estimated gross increase of 6 per cent on education expenditure for the year 2003.
The overall increase of 3.5 per cent includes a reduction of 16 per cent (€100m) in educational capital expenditure.
Third level institutions will be hardest hit with all planned capital projects to be reviewed and reprioritised.
There will be no increase in the level of student maintenance grants and colleges will be required to effect economies across all areas of activity.
The Minister said there was no provision for an increase in third level fees but when asked where he thought third level institutions would find extra funding, Minister Dempsey said they would have to "cut their cloth to suit their measure."
The Minister said his priority was to try and assist the disadvantaged with preference given to the primary and post-primary sectors.
A provision for special needs assistants at primary level is to increase by nearly 100 per cent at €100m.
There will however, be no more funds for the purchase of computers for primary schools with a freeze on the ICT capital programme. Provision has been made for care and maintenance.
The Minister gave an assurance to complete all current contractual commitments at primary and secondary levels. The programme to remove Radon/Asbestos and Dust would continue, as would commitments to provide for health and safety works.
The Minister said he "would love to have more money. In Education we did get more money - some of my colleagues were not so lucky."