CUTS IN EDUCATION SPENDING being considered for the coming budget include increasing primary school class sizes and cutting special needs teachers.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has reacted angrily to the suggestion that the pupil-teacher ratio will be affected.

Speaking on Morning Ireland this morning, the INTO’s general secretary Sheila Nunan said that the curriculum being used in primary school “requires a different kind of learning” and more interaction from children.

Increasing class size would affect that learning and Irish classes are currently back to 2002 sizes, despite a government commitment made on the issue in 1997, Nunan said.

The Irish Examiner reports that the Department of Finance is considering increasing class sizes to 29 pupils. Currently, according to the INTO, an average Irish primary school class has 24.5 pupils.

Enrolment in primary schools this year increased by 5,000 and is expected to grow to 517,200 for the next school year, according to the Irish Independent.

Possible budget cuts

The Department is also reported to be considering cutting 100 special needs teachers to save €3m a year, and introducing a €200 annual bus charge for primary school and special needs children who currently get free transport.

Abolishing the Transition Year programme at second-level would save €84m a year, as would doubling third-level registration fees to €3,000.

Documents seen by the Examiner also suggest that cutting pension payments by €1 a week would save €47m a year.

Cutting child benefit by €1 a month would save €13m, while a 10% cut in the payment would save €130m a year.