Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in the context of the discussions in the revised programme for Government, consideration was given to the resultant costs for his Department; if such costs have been identified; if he received confirmation from the Department of Finance regarding the availability of the necessary funds to meet these proposals; if he will confirm if he has had discussions with the interested parties as to the feasibility of meeting such commitments within the lifetime of this Dáil within existing budgetary intentions and the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes report; if it intends that these proposals will be self-financing or if other means have been identified as a source of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37045/09]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the new commitments in the revised programme for Government will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37078/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 152 together.

In drawing up the Revised Programme for Government all relevant issues including costs formed part of the consideration. With regard to their specific identification the Deputy will appreciate that while some costs can be identified with a degree of certainty the costs of other elements will depend on their precise implementation.

The specific education measures include a commitment to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio for the lifetime of the Government, 500 teaching posts over the next three years, funding for 28 additional psychologist posts, standard capitation grants to schools being maintained and an extra allocation being made available to schools for needs such as book rental schemes and curricular activities.

The commitment to maintain the standard capitation grants to schools will not give rise to additional costs except insofar as it relates to increases in the school going population, the costing of which would form part of the annual estimates and budgetary process. While the precise costs of the additional teaching posts cannot be determined until the actual appointments are made it is anticipated that every teacher appointed will give rise to an initial annual pay cost of approx. €46,000 on appointment rising to an average of €64,000 over time. We plan to start allocating the first tranche of 200 posts early in the new year, with a further 150 posts to be allocated in September 2010, with the remainder in September 2011. Assuming 200 extra teachers from the beginning of next year and a further 150 teachers next September the extra pay costs next year will be in the order of €11 million and the ongoing full year pay cost when all 500 teachers are employed at average salary will be in the order of €32 million.

The funding of the additional 28 psychological posts is expected to give rise to an additional full year cost of approx €2.3m. I can inform the Deputy that my Department and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is currently actively engaging with some 13 prospective recruits to the National Educational Psychological Service for assignment in the immediate future (four by the end of October). Discussions are now underway between my Department and the Public Appointments Service with a view to establishing a new recruitment competition to produce a panel of qualified personnel to continue the planned ongoing expansion of the Service.

The exact level of additional funding for schools for the consolidated grants will be considered in the context of the estimates and budgetary process. I can confirm that my Department is currently engaged in discussions with the Department of Finance in relation to the precise quantum of funding needed to implement this commitment in 2010. It is also my intention to have my Department engage with the school management bodies on the most efficient method of delivering this funding into the schools.

The Revised Programme also provides for other measures which have the potential to give rise to additional costs for the education sector. These include for example delivery of 100 MBs Broadband for all second level schools by 2012 and roll out of new digital access devices for teachers and students. In addition it provides for the development of a costed multi-annual plan to implement some priority aspects of the EPSEN Act focusing on measurable, practical progress in education and health services for children with special needs. However it is not possible to give an exact costing at this early stage until the implementation arrangements are worked out.

The Revised Programme for Government, which is for delivery over the period to 2012, is based on the broad macro economic framework set out in the April Budget taking account of the latest fiscal trends. The framework recognises the need to achieve stabilisation of the public finances over the next three years involving significant adjustments in current expenditure in each year. This correction of the public finances will take account of the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes and the Commission on Taxation while creating room for targeted spending and taxation initiatives that can be demonstrated to promote economic renewal. Funding for all aspects of the revised Programme, including the education measures, will be considered over the coming weeks in the context of the estimate and budgetary process.