Flúirse's Post Budget 2008 Reaction

Flúirse disappointed in Minister's lack of vision in Budget's Education spend for School Infrastructure.

Commenting on the Budget 2008, Tomás Finneran, Director or Flúirse Limited, states, “Whilst we welcome the announcement by the Minister to allocate €828 million of the total education budget of €9.3 billion to schools’ capital investment, we are disappointed that once again this government has failed to take any measures to address the continued lack of investment in, and support for, Information and Communications Technologies in our primary schools. Whilst this Government is starting to address the obvious physical infrastructure inadequacies, they are ignoring the increasingly outdated and inadequate ICT infrastructure.”

The current spending on ICT for primary schools equates to less than €45 per child. This compares to over €100 per child in the Northern Ireland and UK Education systems, which are well established following sustained investment over the past decade and more.

Tralee native Kristian O’Donovan established Flúirse with Tomás Finneran back in 2005. The company provides tailored educational resources for parents, teachers and children to enhance the learning and teaching experience. The company has been active since its launch, in campaigning on behalf of primary schools, teachers and children.

Tomás appreciates the necessity for capital investment but believes there is a need for further vision. “Naturally, Flúirse would be one of the first organisations to welcome the Minister’s funding of additional schools and capital projects. However, there is much more to education than four walls and a roof, and this budget fails to recognise this.”

Approximately 20% of primary schools are classed as “disadvantaged” in Ireland, a startling figure considering Ireland has the third fastest growing economy in the world. The welcomed government announcements of broadband access to all schools and €252 million for ICT in Education as part of the revised National Development Plan were seen by many as the first steps in finally addressing the second-rate and vastly under-developed ICT infrastructure in Irish schools. However, when the NDP allocation was scrutinised, it equated to less than €45 per child. Meanwhile, the broadband rollout has lacked any joined-up thinking with no supports, maintenance or content provisions.

Tomás points to a missed opportunity. “After the wealth that this economy has delivered and was available to this government over the past decade, it is clear that we have missed another opportunity to establish an effective ICT Infrastructure in our primary schools. Primary schools have always required that initial investment to establish this infrastructure. Now, as we hear the Minister talk of a ‘challenging economic backdrop’, it seems less likely that we’ll get this investment anytime in the near future.”