The general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has today condemned the Budget as a "savage attack" on the State's primary education system and warned of war over the measures contained in it.
Education measures in the Budget increase class size at primary level from 27 to 28 pupils per teacher and put a limit of two language-support teachers per school.
Speaking on Morning Irelandthis morning, Mr Carr said Brian Lenihan's Budget was the "most callous, savage attack ever undertaken against primary school children".
He said that the Budgetary measures would result in the loss of 1,000 teaching posts next year and the creation of the largest class sizes in Europe.
Mr Carr added that if a teacher was out sick, there would be no replacement, leading to pupils being sent home or class sizes of up to 40 children in smaller schools.
He also also claimed that 500 English-language teachers would be taken out of the education system, affecting the integration of those pupils who have arrived to the State.
The Budget contained a proviso for unspecified additional help will be provided for students with a high concentration of foreign pupils.
"It [is a . . . absolutely disgraceful attack on primary education, and it has earned now the contempt of teachers and parents. It hasn't come out publicly yet because of the attack on the old, the poor, and now the children.
"These cuts will tear Fianna Fáil apart at local level, and parents, teachers, management will be going to war on this issue," he continued. Mr Carr said that the Cabinet meeting tomorrow was an opportunity to "pull back from the brink".
He also said the Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe, should be at home, "fighting for his own children", rather than going on a trade mission to China.
When asked about the Government's commitment to reduce class sizes, Mr Carr said it was unfair to ask children to "bail out" the economy.
