INVESTING IN THE EARLY YEARS

Despite the economic crash, Labour in Government has invested in schools, protected the pupil-teacher ratio, recruited thousands of teachers and special needs assistants, and established book rental schemes. This includes nine major school projects – 7 primary and 2 secondary – in Dublin Rathdown.

We’re now in a position to spend more on new and existing school buildings, end prefab education, and reduce pupil-teacher ratios. For instance, we’ve already earmarked funding for another four schools in Dublin Rathdown.
The Government invested €2 billion in school building projects between 2012 and 2016, which funded 189 new school building projects and 1,050 smaller modernisation schemes. Together, these created 100,000 permanent school places. Further investment of €3.8 billion between now and 2020 will deliver more and improved schools and see the end of prefab education in Ireland.

Our Literacy and Numeracy Strategy has delivered the first improvements to reading and maths for a generation.