Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 275: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to bring spending on education as a percentage of GDP in line with Nordic countries, which would involve a 25% increase in education spending over the next three years. [5914/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Expenditure on education has increased dramatically in recent years. The budget for my Department has more than doubled from €2.9 billion in 1997 to €7.5 billion being provided in the 2006 Estimates. Voted expenditure this year will be 9%, or €570 million, higher than last year. This enormous increase in investment is clear evidence of how much this Government believes in education, not just as a key driver of our economic prosperity but as a vital tool for improving people's lives.

We have used the extra resources for education in recent years not just to ensure excellence at all levels but also to provide extra supports for children with special needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We have also invested in the largest school building programme in the history of the State. We are rightly proud of our record in prioritising expenditure on education. Indeed, the latest 'Education at a Glance' report from the OECD showed that the rate of increase in public expenditure on education in Ireland over recent years is the third highest of all OECD countries.