Tens of thousands of protesters took part in a large march in Dublin city centre this afternoon against education cutbacks announced in October's budget.
Four school unions — ASTI, INT, TUI, and IFUT — joined forces for the event to highlight the issues surrounding class sizes, conditions of school buildings, and removal of free book schemes and English support language teachers for children.
The organisers of the event said 70,000 people marched from Parnell Square to Merrion Square, while gardaí were estimating the figure at 40,000.
Union INTO said the march was one of the largest in the capital for years and sent a powerful message to government that the cutbacks must be reversed.
It caused widespread traffic disruption in the city centre, with diversions in place along the north and south quays.
The protesters heard a series of speakers from teaching unions criticise Minister for Education Batt O'Keefe. Many of the protesters booed whenever Mr O'Keefe's name was mentioned.
Protesters dismissed earlier claims by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe that the scale of the economic downturn meant savings had to be made in the education sector .
INTO president Declan Kelleher told the crowd that 112,000 people were protesting all over the country. Mr Kelleher said the Government should not "penalise" children because the economy was in crisis.
"Turning around to us and saying, 'Pack those classes more' is a bridge too far," he said.
ASTI president Pat Hurley and TUI president Don Ryan also addressed the crowd.
The ASTI's John White told protestors the crisis in the public finances could not be solved by creating a crisis in schools.
"These cutbacks fly in the face of all reason," he said.
"We share the concern about the country's finances. But our education service cannot be thrown into crisis when our children's futures and indeed the future of the entire nation depends on it.
"I will say to you here today, speaking on behalf of 18,000 second-level teachers, we will fight against these cuts as they long as they remain," continued Mr White.
"We intend to see these cuts reversed."
The protest marks the culmination of a two-month campaign against the Budget cutbacks. Already, over 35,000 people have attended protest marches in Galway, Cork, Donegal and Tullamore.
Despite the scale of these protests, there is no sign that Mr O'Keeffe will reverse his decision to increase class sizes.
Earlier, Mr O'Keeffe said while he understood teachers' disappointment at the savings measures, it was not realistic that education be completely exempted from any spending restrictions in the current economic climate.
"We have to be realistic about what the country can afford," said Mr O'Keeffe.
"There is financial turmoil around the world. Many countries are now in recession including Ireland.
"We are having to make courageous political decisions to deal with the current economic situation." The minister called for national commitment on the part of the Government to take the tough decisions that will restore the nation to economic prosperity as soon as possible.
"The cost-saving measures the Government outlined in the Budget are necessary to safeguard the future of our country and of our children," he added.
"I am asking for the support of the entire education sector in helping us to work through this very difficult time for our country."
Earlier this week, the Minister agreed to row back on some cutbacks in teacher substitution at second level, a move which averted potential chaos in schools next month.
Last night, primary schools managers met to consider how a similar compromise deal on substitution might work at primary level. A spokesman for the Minister said he would await developments.
But the spokesman stressed the increase in class sizes was not open for discussion.
The INTO says the increase will see over 1,000 teaching posts lost in primary schools.
At second level, school managers say over 800 posts will be lost.
Mr O'Keeffe says the increase in class size returns schools to the class size levels of two years ago. He has accused teacher unions of exaggerating its impact.
Yesterday, INTO general secretary John Carr said the compromise deal on substitution changed little.
"The Government had done nothing to reverse the budget proposals to increase class sizes, remove English-language teachers and withdraw special education and disadvantaged funding at both primary and second level. Neither has Government moved to resolve the substitution issue in primary schools," he said.
"These are major issues of concern to parents, teachers and management and must be resolved."
He called on members of the public concerned about the future of education to march today.
Additional reporting: PA
