An 11 per cent increase in education spending will be included in the Estimates published later today.
However, there is no additional money for work on school buildings, despite intense pressure from Government backbenchers in recent weeks.
Department sources insist there will be no freeze on building projects involving over 800 schools in 2002. They say the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, will give details of all capital projects in education in the Budget. But the lack of new capital funding for school projects is bound to stir strong Opposition criticism.
It may also prompt an angry reaction from the INTO, who have highlighted the cases of 41 schools which are sub-standard and dilapidated.
The Estimates provide an additional £400 million for education and special funding to support a number of new measures including:
The new exams board which will run all State exams;
The recruitment of several hundred primary and secondary teachers because of commitments made in the PPF;
Funds to support the Laffoy Commission on child abuse;
Funding for about 200 additional staff in the Department of Education;
There will be more money for third level places;
Money for a new council on special needs education.
The Estimates do not make any provision for additional funds to cover the cost of supervision and substitution by teachers as this is being handled by the Department of Finance.
Along with health, education is emerging as one of the few winners in the Estimates.
The Estimates will also make increased provision for special needs education, including for pupils with autism.
Extra resources will be allocated to VECs around the State, which run a lot of adult education programmes.
Last year, education spending rose by 12 per cent to £3.7 billion and capital expenditure rose by 18 per cent.
In recent years, money for school buildings has been greatly increased. With many schools dilapidated and in need of repair the Department responded last year with a 21 per cent rise in expenditure to £125 million. But it now appears that building projects for up to 850 schools - 500 primary and 350 secondary - may be scaled back.