Education-related cuts across the public service will only become clear on the day after the Dail rises, TDs told

Education overspending of €646 million is driving proposed budget trims across multiple departments, with clarity delayed until 17 July, the day after the Dáil rises. The lack of accountability is expected to extend over the summer for cuts affecting next year’s budgets. Rising education costs in the current and following years are linked to failures in providing classes for special needs students and a failed attempt to reduce Special Needs Assistants earlier in the year. Letters warning schools about possible denial of SNA places triggered parental backlash and forced a government U-turn. Labour’s Ged Nash said he received insufficient detail on proposed efficiencies and learned that Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers set a 17 July deadline for departments to submit cost-cutting proposals.

"It means there will be "no accountability" for proposed steps to trim budgets across a range of Departments to make up for an overspend of €646 million in Education."

"The surge in education costs, this year and next, is linked to the Government's bungling on provision of classes for special needs youngsters, as well as a botched attempt earlier this year to cut back on Special Needs Assistants."

"Crudely-worded letters to schools warning of possible denial of SNA places led to parental backlash and outrage across the country, forcing the Government into a prompt U-turn."

""Now, I'm no conspiracy theorist, but that's the day after the Dáil rises. "It means zero accountability from this Government over the summer on the kinds of cuts we're going to see next year.""

Read at Irish Independent