The 2009 budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. The Government took these decisions to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run.
In this respect education expenditure, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. I fully accept that while these decisions were not of themselves desirable they were necessary in securing the future economic stability of the country.
As is the case with the finalisation of the Estimates and budget each year, these decisions were taken following careful consideration of all the relevant issues by the Government.
I am pleased that the revised programme for Government emphasises the continued priority of education investment in the overall context of the Estimates and budgetary process.