The Opposition has castigated the Government over Budget cuts in education during a Dáil debate that began at 7pm and will continue tomorrow with a vote at noon.
Opening the debate, Labour spokesman on education Ruairí Quinn condemned the Budget as "an act of social vandalism".
Recalling his emotions when he heard the Budget details, Mr Quinn said: "My heart sank as I heard the civil service leaden prose being intoned to raise the nation to confront the new difficult economic circumstances in which we found ourselves.
"This was no personal manifesto, political script or even plan of action that might lead us back to a productive and healthy economy. My worst fears were confirmed when I heard the cynicism and cowardice behind the call to 'patriotic action'. This is the last refuge of a worn out government too long in office and long out of creative solutions.
Mr Quinn continued: "Budget 2009 is little more than an act of social vandalism. It is an attack upon our children, the most vulnerable in our society. It is an attack on our future because our children will be the generation who will guide us into old age."
But Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has ruled out a climbdown on education cuts and insisted people would have to accept pain now, otherwise "we will have no economy in two years time".
Addressing the Dáil, Mr O'Keeffe criticised what he said were "outlandish claims" made in the House, "and the scaremongering that has gone on in the last two weeks about the claimed impact on schools and children".
"We must accept that the dramatic changes in world economic circumstances, changes that are challenging Governments the world over, require decisive action," Mr O'Keeffe said.
"It is simplistic and dangerous to pretend that expenditure on public services could be allowed to grow as if domestic and international economic conditions were as healthy as they were in recent years."
Those on the Opposition benches were being "dishonest" with the Irish people when they offered facile solutions, he added.
An estimated crowd of at least 5,000 teachers and parents staged a demonstration outside Leinster House tonight to coincide with the Dáil debate on the proposed education cuts.
Earlier, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the cuts in education were necessary to help improve the country’s deteriorating economic situation.
“We will continue with our investment in education next year and in the years ahead, and in better times we will accelerate that investment,” he told the Dáil.
He added: We have a current Budgetary deficit which will have to be addressed and further strategic decisions will have to be taken. Any suggestion to the contrary is not being honest with the people and whatever the popularity stakes, I will be honest with the people.“
This morning, speaking on RTÉ radio, Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan denied there had been any cuts in the budget for education saying there had been a €300 million increase in spending in the sector.
“Three departments didn’t have a cut in spending – health, social welfare and education,” he said.
Green Party leader John Gormley warned last night the country was "staring into an economic abyss". He was defending his party's decision to support education cuts in the debate today despite opposition from some of his own party councillors.
Additional reporting PA