Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education, Sorca Clarke TD, has said government’s ongoing failure to adequately fund schools has been laid bare for all to see in a damning OECD report.

The report reveals Ireland’s spending per primary school student was 8% below the OECD average. It also finds that teachers’ work hours and class sizes exceed the OECD average.

Speaking today, Teachta Clarke said:

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed abysmally to fund Ireland’s schools. The consequences are overcrowded classes, overworked teachers and schools struggling to cover the cost of basics for pupils.

“Too often this funding gap is passed on to parents, with pressure to pay for digital devices, ‘voluntary’ contributions and school books. Principals and teachers are also under huge pressure, as they struggle to get on with doing their jobs properly while also navigating these severe funding challenges.

“Schools and parents have been crying out for change, yet government has totally failed to act and deliver the level of funding that is needed. The Education Minister is not showing the urgency this issue deserves.

“This report has found that OECD countries spend on average 1.4% of their GDP on primary education, however Ireland spends just 1.1%.

“Sinn Féin have been calling for fair class sizes for years, but government has ignored these calls. Smaller class sizes are crucial for all children to reach their educational potential and critically so for those with special educational needs. They facilitate greater student participation and engagement, which in turn can lead to enhanced academic performance.

“Smaller classes can also lead to greater job satisfaction for teachers. Reducing stress and burnout of teachers can lead to higher morale and retention rates among teachers. Government cannot keep ignoring this issue.

“Until meaningful action is taken the crisis in our schools will continue to undermine the educational outcomes of our children and place unnecessary strain on our dedicated and hardworking teachers who are made to work under increasingly difficult conditions. It’s time for change.

“Sinn Féin have continually urged the government to end the scandal of their failure to fairly fund schools. The solutions are there, if the political will is there to deliver them.

“Budget 2025 must not be another missed opportunity from the government. School pupils and their families cannot wait any longer for government to wake up to the reality of the pressures Ireland’s schools are under because of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s failures.”