'In the Budget 2015 speech delivered this afternoon, Minister Brendan Howlin announced the provision of 900 mainstream classroom teachers, 480 resource teachers and 365 SNA posts for 2015. We will be spending €88m to provide for these new full time posts which will aid in meeting the growing need in primary and secondary schools across the country. Following numerous representations to Minister Howlin and the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan TD it was also confirmed there will be no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio in 2015.
'Within Budget 2015, €530m will be made available for capital expenditure in education. During the lifetime of this Government, we have built 150 schools and have made improvements or provided extensions to approximately 100 schools. I believe this is important in the context of our financial difficulties in recent years. We have maintained education as a top priority in the last four budgets and we have remained committed to providing continued top quality education for our children. This is evidenced by the €60m increase in the education budget for 2015.
'I am delighted there has been a recognition of the difficulties experienced by teachers and educational stakeholders in recent years. I am aware that these measures do not go the full way in addressing the difficulties being experienced on the ground but it does help to alleviate some of the burden on hard pressed teachers and staff.
'It is also important to note that €10m will be invested to improve the facilities and equipment available to students who are studying in an Institute of Technology which I hope will pay positive dividends for the students of the Dundalk Institute of Technology.
'I look forward to engaging with local teachers, parents and students in the coming weeks regarding the announcements this afternoon. I look forward to the impact these announcements will have locally and most importantly the positive impact these measures will have on students across the county.'
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