Fianna Fáil is promising to hire an extra 2,500 teachers over the next five years.

The party is unveiling its plans for education if it is elected to Government this morning.

The plan would cost €105m and see class sizes reduced to 23 to one.

Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue explains: “So what we are committing to is that over the next five years we will reduce the pupil teacher ratio by 1 point to the margins each year.

“Which would mean 2,500 new teachers over the next five years.

“That would be a maximum average class size of 23 to one and that would cost €105m.”