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The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., announced earlier this afternoon that €6.5 million will be spent on the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy in 2013, with a further €3 million being ring fenced for the reform of the Junior Cycle.

Minister Sherlock said: "Provision has been made for the the costs of Continuing Professional Development for teachers associated with implementing Junior Cycle reform, the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, Project Maths and the use of ICT in teaching and learning. Funding will also be provided for a post graduate programme for teachers of mathematics."

He also said that "As Minister for Research and Innovation I am particularly pleased that the funding to the Irish Research Council (IRC) has been protected in Budget 2013.

"Funding

of €31 million to the Irish Research Council has been maintained, allowing for the continuation of its many funding programmes at a level similar to 2012. This will ensure a steady flow of high quality PhD students and early career researchers across the broad disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, engineering and science."

Minister Sherlock also welcomed the protection of class sizes and special needs services in Budget 2013. There will be no reduction in teacher numbers for primary schools and free second level schools as a result of Budget 2013. There will also be no reduction in the number of Resource Teachers or Special Needs Assistants.