Class sizes in primary and free second level schools remain unchangedThe Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. today outlined how he has protected frontline services in schools and higher education institutions to the greatest extent possible in the Budget.
Despite the need to find considerable savings in the Department, Minister Quinn has announced that there will be no reduction in teacher numbers for primary schools and free second level schools as a result of this Budget. In addition, he is protecting special needs services, which means there will be no reduction in the number of Resource Teachers or Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a result of this Budget.
The DES current expenditure budget for 2013 is €8.514 billion. Savings of some €90 million are needed for next year. This is made up of €77 million of savings announced under last year’s Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, together with a further €13 million in order to meet upward pressures mainly associated with the pay costs for teachers and SNAs.
"Given that four in every five euro in my Gross Current Budget is spent on pay and pensions, it has not been an easy task to identify the savings of €90 million needed. However, I have sought as far as possible to meet the Programme for Government commitment to prioritise education and to protect frontline services," said Minister Quinn.
In order to promote fairness in funding second level schools, a 2 point increase in the pupil teacher ratio in fee charging second level schools will be introduced in September 2013. There are currently 55 schools, out of 723 post primary schools, that charge fees ranging from €2,550 to €10,065 for day pupils. At present the state pays the salaries of one teacher for every 21 pupils in these schools compared with one teacher for every 19 pupils in schools in the Free Education scheme.
This will rise to 23:1 in schools that charge fees. However, these schools have the resources, through fees charged, to employ teachers privately, an option which is not available to schools in the free education scheme. A report on the analysis of the tuition income of fee-charging schools carried out by the Department will be published in the New Year.
Two measures are being taken in order to reduce the substitution costs for teachers and SNAs in schools. Firstly, sick leave referrals will be harmonised with those that apply in the civil service. This will mean that schools will be required to refer teachers and SNAs to the occupational health service, the equivalent of the company doctor, after four weeks of sick leave. Secondly, arrangements for maternity leave-in-lieu for teachers and SNAs will be revised, with teachers’ annual leave entitlements covered by school closures. This move will not affect their statutory entitlement to 6 months’ fully paid maternity leave and to 16 weeks of unpaid leave. A similar change will take place in respect of adoptive leave in lieu.
By taking these two measures together, Minister Quinn has been able to save enough money to avoid having to reduce the number of teachers in mainstream schools.
The PTR in Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programmes is to be equalised with the PTR in mainstream second level schools, changing from 17:1 at present to 19:1. However, the number of PLC places should not be affected.
Participants on VTOS, Youthreach and FÁS further education and training programmes who move from Jobseekers payments will no longer have their new payments increased to the maximum €188 per week, in cases where their Jobseekers allowance is less than this. However, people under 25 will continue to receive a top-up rate of up to €160 per week. While a reduction is necessary, given the difficult economic circumstances, there will still be a financial incentive for young people to take up further education and training opportunities. This measure will be replicated by the Department of Social Protection in respect of the Back to Education Allowance Scheme.
As Minister Quinn has already signalled, the student contribution at third level will rise by €250 in 2013 to €2,500 and by €250 for the following two years to a maximum of €3,000 by 2015. The Budget will also see a 3% reduction in the income threshold for entitlement to student grants. This threshold rose every year from 1997 to 2009, in line with average industrial earnings. However, average incomes fell by 7.9% over the past few years but there has been no corresponding decrease in income thresholds for grant purposes since the economic downturn. Minister Quinn has, however, been able to maintain the existing rates of grant support for those qualifying in 2013.
Minister Quinn is seeking more prudent management of existing cash balances by the Higher Education Institutions by reducing their allocation on a one off basis by €25 million. He is requesting the Higher Education Authority ensures this measure will not impact on frontline student services. Similarly, the allocation to VECs will be reduced by €13.2 in 2013 which again should not reduce service levels.
"While it has been difficult to secure the level of savings required, I have sought to be as fair as I can throughout, to protect frontline education services as much as possible and to prioritise those sectors in the education system that cater for disadvantaged and special needs students," said Minister Quinn.
"Alongside savings which I had to find, I have also secured the resources to continue our ambitious reform agenda to ensure better outcomes for all of our students.
A complete overhaul of the Junior Cycle is now underway, and will be supported by an investment of €3 million in 2013, and €8.7 million in 2014. The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy continues to be rolled out, at a cost of €6.5 million in 2013. The Schools Building programme for 2013 will see work begin on 50 projects for new schools and major extensions. This will bring the number of planned major school projects on site in 2013 to 113 as part of an overall capital expenditure on schools of almost €370 million.
The roll-out of high-speed broadband to second level schools continues, with a further 200 schools expected to be connected by September of 2013. The Action Plan on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector is being implemented, which will ensure greater parental choice. With rising enrolments at both primary and post primary levels, next year will also see approximately 900 jobs net for teachers created – 450 at primary and 450 at second level.
A total of €48 million has also been provided in the National Training Fund for labour activation measures for the unemployed and targeted skills training in 2013.