Minister O'Keeffe outlines key Budget measures in education as part of national recovery effort [education.ie]
- Published: 09 December 2009
'Task facing all sectors of society is to respond collectively to challenges facing our economy' - Minister
As part of continuing Government efforts to stabilise the Exchequer position and build for economic recovery, the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, today outlined details of the 2010 Budget for his Department.
The gross allocation for the Department of Education and Science will be €8.888 billion.
The measures introduced today account for a reduction of €603 million in overall gross expenditure compared with the 2009 Estimates Allocation in the Revised Estimates Volume.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Saudis to establish school in Dublin [IrishTimes]
- Published: 09 December 2009
THE GOVERNMENT of Saudi Arabia is planning to establish a school with an Islamic ethos in Dublin.
The plans have been announced in Arabic on the website of the Saudi embassy in Dublin which opened in September.
According to the notice, the decision to set up a school was taken at a meeting in Dublin late last month. The meeting was attended by members of the education committee of the Saudi Shura Council, an unelected body whose members advise the Kingdom’s government, and Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Ireland, Abdulaziz Aldriss.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Education funding cut by 5% [IrishTimes]
- Published: 09 December 2009
Education funding has been cut by more than 5 per cent in the Budget - but there is no increase in the student registration fee.
Teachers and third-level staff will bear the brunt of the cuts , with pay for the average teacher down by 6 per cent.
An increase in the €1,500 student registration charge was expected after the Government abandoned plans to introduce student loans two months ago.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Surge in calls to poison centre over children drinking hand gel [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 09 December 2009
THE National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) is concerned at the surge in calls involving small children drinking alcohol hand gels or getting the substance in their eyes.
So far this year, the centre has received 49 enquiries about alcohol hand gels, of which 33 were paediatric cases.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Reforms are off the table, says union [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 09 December 2009
THE Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has rejected Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe’s suggestion that public service reforms which were close to being agreed last week could form the basis of further negotiations with unions next year.
The minister told the Irish Examiner on Monday that he expected the proposals, which had included an extra hour’s work for supervision and other school duties from 60,000 school teachers, to remain on the table despite the pay talks collapsing last Friday. Other aspects agreed in principle included a review of teachers’ contracts and additional work for third-level lecturers.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
