Education Minister Mary Hanafin has been accused of failing Irish children, following the release of an OECD report today into education today.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, Education at a Glance 2007, published today concludes that Ireland has some of the largest class sizes in the industrialised world and spends less on education than other EU countries.
Fine Gael Education Spokesperson, Olwyn Enright TD said the Government had "neglected" education and was putting future Irish prosperity at severe risk. "This report repeats the appalling figures in the last OECD Report, highlighting once again the lack of priority Fianna Fáil attaches to reforming and investing in the education sector."
He said Irish children were being left behind as other countries better funded and reformed their education systems.
It was "particularly abysmal" that there were no figures available illustrating pre-school education spending. "I would have to question whether the disturbing figures on class sizes will actually get worse after [Finance Minister] Brian Cowen's comments today that there will be a squeeze on public finances."
But Ms Hanafin said the report showed the Irish education system was performing "very strongly". "We are seeing improvements in pupil/teacher ratio at primary and second level, increased completion rates at second and 3rd level as well as increases in funding for all levels.
"This all places Ireland in a very strong position when we are looking at how our future workforce will be able to compete internationally."
She said between 1995 and 2004, total public and private spending had increased by 74 per cent at primary and second level.
More than 90 per cent of Irish 25 to 34-year-olds had also completed at least upper second level education or an equivalent course such as a FÁS qualification - compared with an OECD average of 82 per cent, she said.