The £1 billion Exchequer surplus should be spent on reducing class sizes in the State, the most overcrowded in the European Union, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) has said.
The association is to meet the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Martin, next Wednesday to press for this funding.
The £1 billion Exchequer surplus proves that "the time is right to tackle our overcrowded classrooms," ASTI's general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, said in a statement yesterday.
"In 1971 second-level teachers were appointed for every 15 students enrolled. Now we are seeing teachers appointed only when 19 students are enrolled. The result is that classes of 30 students are the norm," he said.
It would be insulting if second-level education, one of the critical contributors to the State's economic success, "was neglected when the fruits of this economic success are being spent," he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister has allocated £5 million towards the extension of the Alfred O'Rahilly business building at NUI Cork, which will create a minimum of 500 more places in the business and languages area.
"This is part of a broader £30 million allocation for the university sector, designed to create a minimum of 3,500 additional undergraduate places," the Minister said.
As part of this investment, £3 million has already been allocated to Dublin City University; £5 million to Trinity College Dublin; and £4.5 million to University College Dublin.