The Progressive Democrats has pledged, if returned to government, to establish a child protection unit within the Department of Education and to ensure every school prepares an 'anti-bullying' programme.
The PDs also said today the party would invest €2 billion to ensure greater equity of access to higher education.
Publishing the party's pre-election policy on education in Dublin, education spokesman Colm O'Gorman said the PDs would strengthen the management capabilities of schools and promote the "strongest child protection measures".
PD Deputy leader Liz O'Donnell.
"It is our intention to prioritise schools in areas of disadvantage, students with special needs, and promote the successful integration of foreign students," he said.
"In conjunction with all of this, we will invest €2 billion to ensure greater equity of access to higher education, provide massively increased resources to third-level institutions, double the output of fourth-level graduates, and encourage greater commercialisation of academic research."
The Educating for Successpolicy document promises to increase the primary school building capital budget from €305 million this year to over €400 million in the lifetime of the next government.
It also pledges to put in place "strict and enforceable" conditions on planning permission to guarantee large new developments include school facilities.
The PDs also said they would establish a child protection unit within the Department of Education and Science.
On school transport, the party said it would, in government, reform the present "out of date and inadequate" school bus system for communities across the country.
It also promised to increase the back-to-school allowance to help ensure children from low-income families can afford textbooks.
In one of a number of measures aimed at children with special needs, the PDs said the party would increase the number of psychologists in the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) from 127 currently to over 200 in the next two years.
To help integrate foreign students into Irish schools, the PDs said they would initiate a review of teacher training practices to ensure teachers are properly equipped to teach the "growing number of students from abroad".
It also pledged to provide for 600 teachers under the National Development Plan for language supports in the education sector by 2009.
Deputy leader Liz O'Donnell said the PDs had ambitious proposals to drive improved performance for the Irish people in all the key policy areas - the economy, health, justice and others.
"Getting the best results for people is what we are about, and our education policy is no different.
"We will apply our trademark ambition and determination to the sphere of education - from primary to fourth level - to ensure Ireland maintains its proud record in educational achievement."