Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2026
84. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount the transition year grant was per pupil in the 2024-2025 academic year, the 2025-2026 academic year; the total spend in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46120/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Transition Year Grant is currently paid as a full year cost in June of each year based on the number of recognised Transition Year students enrolled in the school per that year’s October Returns. The payment made in June is done so in respect of the coming school year. This means that the grant payment for the 2024/25 school year was made in June 2024 based on recognised enrolment for the 2023/24 school year. The effective rate of the Transition Year grant in June 2024 was €95 per recognised enrolment, and the total spend amounted to €5.2 million.
As part of the broader increase to capitation in Budget 2024, the rate of the Transition Year Grant was restored to the pre-2011 level of €100 per student in post-primary schools. This rate became effective for the payment made in June 2025 in respect of the 2025/26 school year and remains the current effective rate. Accordingly, the Transition Year grant payment for 2025/26 amounted to €5.56 million.
Transition Year is a valuable programme option for students, and my Department and I are committed to supporting schools to expand participation so that all students who wish to take part can have the opportunity to do so. The Transition Year grant is an important part of supporting schools and is paid in addition to regular capitation, which has been increased to €406 per recognised pupil for the 2026/27 school year.
The Deputy will also be aware that The Post-Primary Schoolbooks Scheme will provide free schoolbooks and core classroom resources to all students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme from the current school year. Under this scheme the per capita rate paid to schools for students in Transition Year is €142 in line with recognised student enrolment.
My officials and I continue to explore how schools can be supported in offering Transition Year as we work towards our Programme for Government commitment to promote the expansion of the Transition Year programme and address the barriers faced by some students in accessing it.
