Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2025
290. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the budgetary provision made by her Department since 2020 to support programmes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66782/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the deputy that my department provides funding for the programmes outlined as follows:
The Creative Schools initiative provides opportunities for children and young people to build their artistic and creative skills; to communicate, collaborate, stimulate their imaginations, be inventive, and to harness their curiosity. Creative Schools is open to primary and post-primary schools as well as Youthreach Centres and special schools. The programme is led by the Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
Department of Education and Youth funding is as follows:
|
Creative Schools |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Pay |
378,000 |
420,000 |
420,000 |
420,000 |
420,000 |
420,000 |
|
Non Pay |
660,000 |
660,000 |
660,000 |
660,000 |
660,000 |
660,000 |
|
Total |
1,038,000 |
1.080,000 |
1,080,000 |
1,080,000 |
1,080,000 |
1,080,000 |
The Active School Flag Programme promotes physical activity, using a whole-of-school approach, anchored by student voice and student leadership.
It supports schools to find ways to increase the range, variety and type of physical activity opportunities throughout the school day, so that primary and post-primary schools become ‘enabling environments’ for physical activity, for all their members.
The Active School Flag programme is a Department of Education and Youth initiative, and is jointly funded by my department and the Department of Health through the Healthy Ireland initiative.
Department of Education and Youth funding is as follows:
|
Active Flag Programme |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Total |
200,562.12 |
200,562.00 |
211,959.12 |
211,641.49 |
425,500 |
620,000 |
ESD to 2030, Ireland’s 2nd National Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development, aims to ensure that all learners have the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal target 4.7.
ESD to 2030 funding has been delivered to organisations and schools through an open call since 2022 for projects that support implementation of ESD to 2030 in schools.
Prior to the publication of ESD to 2030, a small amount of funding was provided to An Taisce/ Green Schools to support the delivery of the green schools programme.
Under the open call for ESD to 2030 funding for organisations, a range of organisations including An Taisce/ Green Schools have received funding from my department since 2022. An Taisce/ Green Schools has been provided with the following funding from my department:
|
An Taisce/ Green Schools |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Total |
10,000 |
15,000 |
5,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
2022: €5,000 was provided for a Food and Biodiversity project
In 2023, 2024 and 2025: Funding was provided primarily for the OECD 2030 Future of Education Project, the Global Goals Bookless project and the development of learning modules and resources for schools.
A full list of ESD to 2030 grantees is available on the ESD to 2030 webpage: [National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland] (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/national-strategy-on-education-for-sustainable-development-in-ireland/).
Core funding for the An Taisce/ Green Schools programme is provided by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
My department provides funding to Foras na Gaeilge to support the Gaelbhratach programme, primarily to enhance the promotion of spoken Irish outside the Irish classroom in English-medium schools as follows:
|
Foras Na Gaeilge/ Gaelbhratach |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Primary |
60,000 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
90,000 |
90,000 |
90,000 |
|
Post-primary |
60,000 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
90,000 |
90,000 |
90,000 |
|
Total |
120,000 |
120,000 |
120,000 |
180,000 |
180,000 |
180,000 |
Core funding for the Gaelbhratach programme is provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
