Education spend full of old promises, says teachers’ union [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 27 July 2010
THE Government’s infrastructural investment in education comprises old promises on school places with insufficient spending on information technology, it has been claimed.
As part of its Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010-2016 document, the Government said it intends to invest €3.1 billion in upgrading and expanding the primary and secondary school networks.
"This will ensure we meet the continuing demand for more primary school places which is driven by demographic trends," it said. "The investment will see new schools being built where they are most needed and will also deliver small-scale improvement works."
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
The voice of the children of Ireland [IrishTimes]
- Published: 27 July 2010
The Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, is determined that children who do not have parents to fight for them will still be respected and protected by the State, through legislation, policies and public bodies, writes SHEILA WAYMAN
WHEN A parent of two children with special needs has to liaise with people from 24 different health specialities in an effort to secure services, it is clear there is something radically wrong with the system.
It was just one of the 900-plus complaints which the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, handled last year, but it would not be atypical. The burden put on such parents is, she believes, unacceptable.
“The pursuit and organisation of medical and educational intervention for the two children took the form of constantly following up on the transfer of files, co-ordinating the relevant information, arranging and rearranging assessments and tests and generally petitioning for services on their behalf,” according to her recently released annual report for 2009.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Education sector allocated €4bn [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 July 2010
The Government plans to invest more than €4 billion in capital spending via the Department of Education and Skills.
The bulk of this - €3.1 billion - will be used to upgrade primary and secondary school facilities, with more than €650 million going into the universities, institutes and other higher education facilities.
The investment will see an additional 70,000 primary school places in the run-up to 2016 in new and existing schools and a further 10,000 places in temporary accommodation in the primary sector, according to the capital investment plan. Investment in the secondary sector will open up 15,000 places in new schools.
The continued strong investment was being driven by the steady rise in pupil numbers, the plan says. Birth rates had been increasing since 1995. "The extent of this increase has already fed into demand for primary school places and is now manifest in numbers enrolling in second-level education. This trend is intensifying."
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
€3.1bn for upgrading of schools [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 July 2010
EDUCATION: CAPITAL SPENDING on education will exceed €4 billion in the years to 2016, with the great majority of this moving into primary and secondary education.
The higher-education sector was warned, however, that there was only a limited case for continued State investment.
Education and Skills was one of the few departments to see an increased allocation in the revised capital funding programme, with support rising slightly above that proposed by the National Development Plan (2007-2013).
The revised approach will provide €3.1 billion for the upgrading and expansion of primary and secondary schools, with €650 million available for investment in higher education, including universities, institutes and other colleges.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Average back to school bill soars to €815 [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 26 July 2010
THE average cost for a child entering secondary school has rocketed to €815 – over €500 more than the back-to-school allowance.
About 60% of parents said they faced higher costs this year than they did ahead of the 2009/10 school year.
The children’s charity Barnardos has warned that children’s futures should not be sacrificed to the recession. Today it is launching a survey which reveals the average basic cost for a child going into first year is €815, while the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for eligible families is only €305.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
