Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Nothing has been decided for this year's budget. Consultation will take place across all Departments. The Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform will invite all partners to make contributions, as they did last year, and everyone will have an opportunity to contribute to the budgetary process. We have just been through a series of meetings with teachers' unions, management bodies and other stakeholders in the education system. There are a substantial number of asks, if one likes, but the allocation of resources will not be decided until budget time.