Budget 2022 Education Update

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound, on 12/10/2021. Budget 2022 Education Update

Tags: Education And Politics Parenting Teachers

A total of €9.2 billion has been allocated to the Department of Education for 2022, including a capital budget of €792 million.
The Government has indicated this will support a school building programme which involves over 200 projects which once completed, are expected to deliver over 30,000 school places.

Average teacher pupil ratio in primary schools is expected to be reduced from 25 to 24 pupils

980 additional teachers and 1,165 additional SNAs

€50 million in ICT grants for primary and post primary schools

Funding for 200 school building projects

Back-to-school allowance to increase by €10

€30 million for the school transport scheme

€18 million to expand DEIS programme and €4 million to extend hot schools meals to more DEIS primary schools

Maintenance grant for Third Level students will be increased by €200, qualifying income thresholds expanded by €1,000 and qualifying distance reduced from 45km to 30km

€200 contribution fee for post-Leaving Certificate courses abolished

Creation of 20,000 new further education and training places

Childcare and Family

Maternity benefit and parental leave payments to be increased

Parent's Benefit extended by 2 weeks to 7 weeks from July next year

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance increased by €10

Children up to the age of 15 will be included in the universal payment under the National Childcare Scheme. It provides 50c per hour towards the cost of a Tusla-registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week

New funding stream for up to 4,700 early years and childcare providers will be put in place from September 2022 onwards to support improvements in the quality of childcare provision

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SchoolDays

(12/10/2021 16:15)

ASTI Statement - Budget Response

Education Budget 2022: Key areas requiring urgent investment not addressed

Budget 2022 fails to tackle the underfunding of second-level schools in Ireland, ASTI President Eamon Dennehy said today.

The recently published OECD report Education at a Glance 2021 once again ranks Ireland in last place out of 36 countries for investment in second-level education.

“We await the details of today’s Budget announcement regarding additional special education teachers and SNAs and how this will apply to second-level education. Investment in this area is vital to supporting Ireland’s vision for an inclusive society,” said Mr Dennehy. “We also await details on additional funding measures for voluntary secondary schools. We have sought funding equalisation for these schools for many years.”

No reduction in class size

“However, we are greatly disappointed that there has been no announcement to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio at second level. Modern curricula require that a significant amount of practical, scientific and experiential work occurs in classrooms every day. This is not sustainable in overcrowded classes. As a first step, the temporary additional teaching supports announced during the pandemic must become part of the permanent annual allocation of teachers to schools. Unfortunately, the Government failed to grasp the opportunity to take this step as part of Budget 2022.”

“It is glaringly obvious from Ireland’s track record for education funding that we need significantly more investment in our schools if we are to build capacity both in terms of infrastructure and student services. Smaller classes, improved buildings and technology, more guidance counsellors and the restoration of middle management posts are the key areas requiring investment. We must catch up with our OECD and EU counterparts. This is the only way we can protect our young people’s wellbeing, education and future lives.”