The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, has said he will shortly be setting up a high-level commission on "education and learning" to review primary and post-primary education.
The Minister is expected to name a high-profile figure who will chair the commission shortly. The Minister said its findings would chart the future course of education in Ireland for the next generation.
Dr Woods, speaking at the Fianna Fβil Ardfheis at the weekend, said the commission would examine many issues, including:
* the legal framework and management structures within which schools operate;
*developments in education and teaching in the context of lifelong learning;
*support services for schools and teachers;
*the role of the teacher in the school and the community;
*the professional development, training and accreditation of teachers.
He said since coming to office in 1997, the Government had increased funding for education by about 70 per cent.
"This year alone, we will provide over £3.7 billion for education, an increase of 12 per cent on last year. The extra funding will allow for substantial improvements in services across all levels of education. But we are not complacent and we realise that there is still much to be done," he said.
He has also announced the abolition of the "local contribution" in primary schools. This was money parents had to raise locally which was then added to funds provided by the State for running costs.
Dr Woods said the contribution amounted to £10 per pupil in mainstream schools and £9.50 per pupil in schools designated as disadvantaged when the Government took office in 1997. Since then the Government has reduced the local contribution required on a phased basis.
"I reduced the amount required to £2 per pupil for all schools during the course of the 2000/2001 school year. I have now decided that this local contribution will be abolished with immediate effect," he said.
Dr Woods also defended his record on autism and special needs, which has been criticised heavily by parents and in the media.
"Until this Government took office, the State did not even recognise the distinct educational needs of children with autism. These children are now being catered for in special dedicated classes each of which caters for a maximum of six children and has a teacher and at least two special needs assistants."
Until 1999 there were no special classes for children with autism in our primary schools. As part of my policy of mainstreaming where possible, there are now 89 special classes dedicated to children with autism," he said.
On the ASTI dispute, he said he recognised the immense contribution of teachers and the dispute earlier this year was "a difficult time for everyone involved".
On the issue of supervision/substitution, he said the Government was making strenuous efforts to resolve it. "We have made a fair and generous offer of £27 per hour, on top of normal pay, for these duties."
He urged the ASTI to let its members vote on the £27 per hour offer.