The Oireachtas Education and Science Committee has heard how recent cutbacks in education have been impacting on second level schools.
The Post Primary Education Forum has said classes are being amalgamated, important subjects are being discontinued, and programmes such as Transition Year and Leaving Cert Applied are being closed.
Jim Moore said cutbacks in book grants and school transport means parents are facing higher costs across the board.
He said 900 teaching posts have been lost this year and putting back 100 per year as per the new Programme for Government is a gesture.
He did however acknowledge the steps taken in the new programme, which will undo some of the damage that followed cutbacks.
