The budget for primary and secondary schools in Ireland cannot be reduced any further, it has been said.

Pat King, general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI), urged the government not to take more money out of the education fund.

Speaking at the union conference earlier this week, he said: "There is no fat or waste in the education service."

Mr King went on to comment that schools are "run on a shoestring" and investment in the education sector is "pathetic".

He expressed his concern that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn might make further reductions to the budget in order to save the government money.

Indeed, Mr Quinn told the Irish National Teachers' Organisation conference that there are difficult financial targets to meet, which could mean teachers receive pay cuts, reported RTE.

However, ASTI's spokesman said this will end up affecting the young people in Ireland as they will not receive good quality education.

Written by Donal Walsh  

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