Back-to-education fees for unemployed people who are not receiving social welfare payments are to be abolished, the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said today.
Addressing the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) in Donegal Ms Hanafin said the changes would come into effect in September.
She told delegates that the Government parties were committed to developing the Irish education system.
However, Tim O'Meara, President of the TUI responded to the Minister's speech by saying: "Many of [the Minister's] recent initiatives, while welcome, smack of tokenism, a sound byte opportunity rather than a serious attempt to address a problem. They are either under-funded, or the qualifying criteria are too narrow".
Mr O'Meara countered that all the measures announced by Ms Hanafin required "proper funding if they are to be successful, and a real commitment from you, Minister".
Mr O'Meara said the measures used by the Government to combat disadvantage at second level are totally inadequate and questioned the failure of the Department to act on the findings of reports they commissioned.
Mr O'Meara stressed that a minimum of €2 billion extra was required to transform the Irish education system.
In her speech Ms Hanafin said €820 million has been provided for special needs facilities this year and pledged to create a further 350 language support posts over the next two years.
The Minister also emphasised the Government's commitment to the provision of broadband in Irish schools, as well as a 14 per cent increase in funding for professional support and training for teachers.
Olwyn Enright, Fine Gael spokesperson on education said that Fine Gael were not prepared to engage in "auction politics".
Speaking today on RTE radio, she said many of the teachers attending their union's conferences were understandably sceptical about "the expected delivery of these rehashed commitments".
Ms Enright went on to say that "no students, principals or parents should be fund-raising to finance the day to day running of schools" and said previous commitments of the Government in relation to class sizes had not been delivered.