Education:More than 400 new teachers will be recruited in the next two years as part of a drive to reduce class sizes in primary schools after Minister for Education Mary Hanafin secured a 9 per cent increase in spending.Minister for Education's allocation to rise by €530m to €7.2bn next year, anincrease of some 8 per cent
The Estimates also set out increased capitation grants for schools, a 17 per cent increase in research funding for third level, and new funds to allow for the taskforce on student behaviour to be implemented.
In all 425 teachers will be recruited. This is in addition to the 75 new teachers announced for disadvantaged schools earlier this year.
The Minister said class size will be significantly reduced in the coming years. The new teachers will allow for a one point reduction on the staffing schedule for primary schools in 2006 and 2007.
There is no signal in the Estimates, however, that the Government can meet the commitment in its programme for government that promised class sizes of under 20 for all under-nines by 2007.
At third level, core funding for the universities and institutes of technology will increase by €80 million to more than €1.2 billion. There will also be a 17 per cent increase in dedicated research and development funding. This will allow for the start up of cycle four of the programme for research in third- level institutions.
Details of a new reform fund that will reward colleges for modernisation and cost cutting will be released in the budget.
Capitation grants will increase at primary level by €18 a pupil. In addition to this there will be a € 6 increase in the ancillary services grant, which covers the cost of school secretaries and caretakers at primary level.
In all, primary schools will get €18 extra a pupil to cover their day-to-day running costs next year. A primary school with 300 pupils will get an extra €5,400 to cover day-to-day running costs.
The post-primary sector does not fare as well with capitation increasing by €12 to €298 a pupil. The support services grant is also being increased by €4 a student.
Voluntary secondary schools will receive an additional €10 towards equalisation funding measures.
The Estimates also provide €2 million to support proposals from the taskforce on discipline.
There is also new funding for reform of medical education where training places will double for Irish and EU students.
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