Commenting on last week's Budget, ASTI General Secretary John White said the union is disappointed that there is nothing specific in the Budget for special needs education at second level. 'The implementation of the Education for Special Needs Act in second level schools means additional administration and co-ordination work, professional collaboration and communication with parents. 'In the absence of additional Resource Teacher assistance and other supports, many schools will be unable to cope and the pupils will suffer,' John White said. He also said the Budget fails to adequately address the fact that Ireland comes twenty-first out of thirty OECD countries in terms of expenditure per second level student. 'The key issue for second level teachers - class size - is not addressed in this Budget,' said Mr White. Mr White said the taxation measures will go some way towards improving teachers' take home pay in the context of inflation that is currently higher than pay increases under the social partnership agreement. He said that while increasing the mortgage interest rate for first time buyers might help some teachers enter the property market, many young teachers will still not be able to afford to buy their own homes.