Budget 2016 Is An Investment In Our Future

I welcome a number of measures in Budget 2016 announced this week.
As Seanad Spokesperson for Education, Disability and Equality I strongly welcome the restoration of the respite care grant and the investment in the areas of childcare and education.  

I have campaigned for the full restoration of the respite care grant since it was reduced.  I am happy to see this has been achieved but would caution that we need to see care givers and those with disabilities given the supports necessary to be cared for at home or in the community and see full inclusion in society. The restoration of the respite care grant was a personal goal for me and I am delighted to see this payment restored for the many tireless care givers across the country.  A total of 86,000 carers will benefit.

Budget 2016 is an investment in all of our children.  Children with additional needs will be better supported from pre-school right through secondary school as a result of the announcements in Budget 2016.

I welcome the introduction of a new model of support for children with additional needs in pre-school settings.  A total of €15m in funding will be provided in 2016 to phase in supports to allow pre-school settings to be fully accessible for children with additional needs.  Further measures which will be supported include enhanced continual professional development for childcare workers; appliances, equipment and minor alteration grants; and access to therapeutic intervention. A further announcement in the childcare sector which will support all children is the introduction of a new starting age of eligibility  of 3 years for the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme.

At primary and second level an additional 2,260 teachers will be recruited during 2016 and will ease the current class sizes.  A total of 1,650 new classroom teachers and 660 resource teachers will be recruited at primary and second level.  Pupil teacher ratio at primary level will be reduced from 28:1 to 27:1.  550 additional teaching posts have also been announced to improve school management and leadership supports as well as guidance.

Further good news in education includes the confirmation of Minor and Summer Works Funding with primary school allocations of €28.5m in minor works to be announced in the coming weeks.  The Summer Works Scheme will run over two years with funding of €80m.

I have had the opportunity to meet with many teachers and principals in our local schools and can attest to their commitment and excellence in the classroom.  I have long advocated that they receive the supports and assistance necessary in order to provide the best opportunities for students.  Students, teachers and principals are being further supported in Budget 2016 on a variety of fronts including infrastructure, classroom support, pupil-teacher ratio and at school leadership level.

As Spokesperson for Education, Disability and Equality I strongly welcome the attention paid in Budget 2016 in supporting those with a disability, their families and  our children.