Cuts could be reversed if pay freeze accepted
Education cuts could be reversed if teachers accepted a pay freeze, new figures have confirmed.
Implementing next year's 3.5pc pay rise across the education sector will cost €240m over 12 months, more than twice the sum needed to reverse the Budget cuts.
Fine Gael wants teachers and other public servants earning more than €50,000 to accept a pay pause but this has been rejected by the teacher unions.
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has revealed that the increase under Towards 2016 will cost €80m for the last four months of 2009, when it due to take effect, and €240m for the full year.
The 3.5pc increase will cost €25m for primary-school teachers; €15m for secondary and comprehensive teachers; €8.8m for VEC staff; and €12.5m for third level staff.
Passing on the 3.5pc rise in pensions to retired teachers will cost the Exchequer more than €10m a year. The controversial cuts in the Budget are estimated to cost about €110m across the education sector.
- Shane Hickey
