Background
Commencing in July 2008, the Government announced a series of cuts in the country's education services including:
- Cuts in the number of teachers in all schools leading to loss of services by the school
- Major cuts in schoolbook grants scheme for most schools
- Increased charges for school transport
- Reductions in the number of language support teachers
- Reduction in capitation grant for Traveller students - one of many measures that hit the most marginalised
- Funding and staffing cuts at the Institutes of Technology and other Higher Education institutions
- A steep increase in the student registration fee for all Higher Education institutions
- A threat to impose third level fees
- A moratorium on the filling of vacancies at middle management level in schools
- A serious curtailment in the filling of even essential academic posts in third level colleges
- Non replacement of adult education positions in the Vocational Education Colleges (VECs).
In Budget 2010 further cuts on education were announced including:
- Reduced funding for the Strategic Innovation Fund
- Reduced rates of Student Support Grants and Youthreach, Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), allowances etc.
- Removal of eligibility for student support grants from Recipients of Back to Education Allowance and certain VTOS allowances
- Rationalisation of teacher support services
- Administrative efficiencies in School Transport
- Other savings across a range of programmes.
