Representative groups unhappy with 2006 spending plans
Representative groups in the health and education sectors have expressed dissatisfaction with the Government's spending plans for next year.
The budget estimates published included a 7% rise in spending to around €48bn.
The extra money includes a 9% rise in health spending and an 8% rise in the Department of Education's budget, most of which will be spent on hiring extra primary school teachers.
The Irish Nurses Organisation, however, has said the spending increase is far below what is needed
Spokesman Liam Doran said any additional expenditure was welcome, but yesterday's estimates would not be enough to implement the Government's own health strategy announced four years ago.
"A good health service costs money [and] we had the money to do more," he said.
The Association of Secondary Teachers, meanwhile, said the level of increased spending on education was extremely disappointing.
John White, the association's general secretary, said: "Ireland's funding for second-level education comes 21st out of 27 OECD countries and there's really nothing in these budget estimates which will improve that."
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