Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
499. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of increasing funding for Irish-medium education by 10%, 20% and 50%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45669/26]
View answerFunding is provided by my department for specific policies and policy actions to support Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools, in addition to the funding provided to support all state-funded schools including capital funding, payment of teachers and school staff, capitation grants and supports such as teacher professional learning. Allocated spending for 2026 for actions to support Irish-medium education under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was approximately €8.6 million. The cost of increasing this expenditure by 10% would be €860,000 per annum; by 20% would be €1.72 million per annum; and by 50% would be €4.3 million per annum. In addition to funding for policy measures, other targeted supports are provided by my department for Irish-medium schools. An additional teaching post is allocated to each Irish-medium post-primary school. The expenditure on these additional teaching posts in 2025 was approximately €4 million. The cost of increasing this allocation by 10% would be approximately €400,000 per annum; by 20% would be €800,000 per annum; and by 50% would be €2 million per annum. The current rate of capitation for primary schools is €224 and this will rise to €274 in September 2026. Gaelscoileanna (Irish-medium primary schools outside of the Gaeltacht) receive an additional €25 per pupil on top of the standard capitation rate for all schools. The cost of increasing this additional capitation amount for Gaelscoileanna by 10% would be approximately €90,000 per annum; by 20% would be €180,000 per annum; and by 50% would be €450,000 per annum. Voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme are funded by my department by way of per capita grants. Additional per capita grants, known as Irish and Bilingual grants, are paid to secondary schools in the voluntary sector in which instruction is through the medium of Irish in full or in part. The expenditure on these grants in 2025 was €681,183. The cost of increasing this grant by 10% would be €68,000 per annum; by 20% would be €136,000 per annum; and by 50% would be €340,000 per annum. My department recently published its NDP Sectoral Investment Plan, which notes that capital investment of €466 million has been made in Irish-medium schools since 2020. Additional investment is planned for Irish-medium provision as part of the phased implementation of projects under the NDP in 2026 and 2027.
