Written Answers Nos. 419-438
419. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the provision of a new secondary school in Kildare town (details supplied), including the expected start of construction, completion of the project and opening of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73302/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department of Education and Youth’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework.
The brief for this project is to provide a new permanent school building for the school, and this project is designed to be delivered in 2 phases; Phase 1 will deliver accommodation for 425 students and Phase 2 will deliver the remaining accommodation to provide for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,000 students, at the former Magee Barracks site in Kildare.
The Design Team lodged their initial application for planning permission for the preferred design option with the Local Authority in October 2023. The Design Team subsequently received a substantial Request for Further Information (RFI) from the Local Authority in respect of the planning application. Following the Design Teams RFI response to the Local Authority, the Design Team received the Local Authority’s initial decision to grant planning permission, with conditions, on 09 October 2024.
The initial grant of planning decision was appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) (formally An Bord Pleanála) in October 2024 and the Design Team received ACP’s decision to grant planning permission in early February 2025.
The project is currently at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The tender returns have recently been received and a review of the tender returns is currently ongoing by the Design Team to formulate a tender report for the department’s review and comments.
The school is currently located in accommodation in the ownership of the Department of Defence. Pending completion of the new school building project, the department will continue to work with the patron bodies to ensure that the accommodation is appropriate for the school’s needs.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation the department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million approved by Government has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6 billion.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation Plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
420. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73311/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra421. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for when occupational therapists and speech and language therapists will be recruited from a recruitment drive to service children in several counties (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73312/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together.
As reference in Parlimentary Questions 71494/25 and 71496/25, the Education Therapy Service (ETS) has been established, in line with the programme for government, as a critical and important support for children and young people in their school environment. The ETS is an additional support for children with special education needs. It is to supplement and not replace existing children’s health and disability services. It is intended to commence initially in specials schools and rollout over time to special classes and mainstream schools.
It is anticipated that the service will commence in 45 special schools at a later stage in the 2025/26 school year. Further roll out of the service will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out in special schools commencing in the 2026/27 school year.
The recruitment campaign for therapists to the new ETS, launched on the 28th November, campaign will initially see 90 occupational therapists and speech and language therapists consisting of staff and senior grades join their therapy team.
As this is a national service, starting with special schools, it will grow and expand to include all schools. It is envisioned that there will be rolling recruitment campaign commencing in 2026 covering all counties to meet the therapy needs of the children in the school system. It is envisioned that further recruitment campaigns will also include additional therapy grades including therapy managers, clinical specialists and therapy assistants.
As referenced in earlier parliamentary questions mentioned above, the NCSE have been developing an education -based therapy support service known as the previously as the Education Therapy Supports Service (ETSS), which will now be subsumed into the ETS. This service provides two strands of support to all schools: Sustained In-School Therapy and Regional Therapy Supports.
My Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring, that in time, all children and young people have access to essential speech and language and occupational therapy in their school environment a timely manner.
422. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Education and Youth the agreement made in November 2025 between the Government and institutional abuse survivors who had been on hunger strike. [73341/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of a recent protest by a group of survivors outside Leinster House, both An Taoiseach and the then-Minister Education and Youth, Minister McEntee, engaged with the group concerned on a number of occasions in relation to the issues they had raised.
On the basis of engagement at a meeting of 10 November, and in the context of an ongoing mediation process, the group agreed to cease their protest. The independent mediator has engaged with both the group and with relevant Government Departments. This work is proceeding as a matter of urgency with a view to a full resolution as soon as possible.
423. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress on the Programme for Government commitment to increase the number of schools offering physical education as a Leaving Certificate school subject. [73345/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIntroduced on a phased basis in 2018 to 64 schools, Leaving Certificate Physical Education is now being offered by 487 schools around the country.
A new specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education was approved by the Minister in August 2025 and can now be accessed at: curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/e3c33f7c-a88b-4050-bed3-c892ec995ba2/SC-PE-Spec-ENG-INT.pdf
This new specification will be introduced in schools for fifth years in the 2026/27 school year.
The new specification was informed by a comprehensive consultation process and the findings of the NCCA early enactment review of the existing specification.
The revised specification includes an additional assessment component (AAC), called the Physical Education Project, worth 50% of the total available marks. The project provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding and application of physical education knowledge and skills described in the learning outcomes across the specification. This assessment is intended to integrate with and support ongoing learning, motivating students to engage deeply with the processes of planning, performing, and improving in physical activities while engaging with issues affecting physical activity.
Guidelines to support the Physical Education Project were published by the NCCA this month, with sample examination papers (2xOL and 2x HL) to be published by the SEC in April 2026, sample briefs in September 2026 and the live brief in January 2027.
The introduction of the revised curriculum and assessment arrangements will be supported by a strong programme of teacher professional learning to be delivered by Oide.
As part of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme, the Department is committed to monitoring, via Post-Primary Online Database (PPOD) enrolment data, uptake in redeveloped subjects under the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme and the numbers of Leaving Certificate examination candidates. Any emerging patterns or trends will be examined further and appropriate potential action identified.
424. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the new teaching posts that will be funded under Budget 2026. [73346/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that Budget 2026 provides for an increase of €1.2 billion in funding to my Department's Vote, in addition to an overall €1.6 billion in capital funding that was previously secured through funding for the revised National Development Plan agreed earlier this year. This brings the overall allocation for my Department in 2026 to €13.5 Billion. The additional funding builds on the significant increases in recent budgets and further enhances the investment in Ireland’s education and youth sectors. The significant increased investment is the largest education budget in the history of the state and reflects the government’s commitment to a quality inclusive school system and improved learning outcomes for every student.
The 2026 Budget documentation which was published sets out funding for key measures and actions agreed for the coming year. The key points are as follows:
• Funding for 860 additional teachers for special education working in special classes and special schools, as well as special education teachers in mainstream settings, to support children with special educational needs. In total, there will be over 46,500 dedicated staff working in schools in 2026 to support children with special educational needs.
• Funding for 1,717 additional SNA posts, bringing the total number of SNAs in schools to almost 24,900. This is the highest ever-number of SNAs allocated supporting the care needs of children in mainstream, special classes and special schools.
• Funding of €48 million has been secured to implement a new Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools (DEIS) Plus scheme, commencing in September 2026 to support pupils and students at the highest risk of educational disadvantage and at risk of educational disadvantage in both DEIS and non-DEIS schools through a new DEIS Plan – further details to be published.
• Funding of €3 million will be made available to provide for enhanced School Leadership with additional Deputy Principals in primary and post primary schools for the 2026/27 school year.
• Other posts may be created as policies are developed and implemented throughout 2026.
425. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the new school leadership (deputy principal) posts that will be funded under Budget 2026. [73347/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding of €3 million was made available in Budget 2026 to provide for enhanced School Leadership with additional Deputy Principals in primary and post primary schools for the 2026/27 school year. Work is currently underway on these arrangements, and full details will be set out in the annual teacher allocation circulars to be published in Spring 2026.
426. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details on schools (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra427. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details on schools (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73379/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra428. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details on schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73380/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 426 to 428, inclusive, together.
Please find the requested data in the tables below. Data is for academic years 2020 to 2024, 2024 being the latest year we have final enrolment data.
Data was collated from the the published school enrolment lists for each academic year which can be found at the link below. We expect to publish preliminary data for academic year 2025-2026 at the end of December with final enrolment data to follow in June 2026.
See: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/data-on-individual-schools/
Table 1
|
Roll Number |
Official School Name |
School Planning area |
1st Year 2020 |
1st Year 2021 |
1st Year 2022 |
1st Year 2023 |
1st Year 2024 |
|
60100Q |
Castleknock College |
Castleknock_D15 |
120 |
141 |
119 |
143 |
120 |
|
60120W |
Mount Sackville Secondary School |
Castleknock_D15 |
119 |
119 |
115 |
117 |
120 |
|
68306H |
Edmund Rice College |
Castleknock_D15 |
108 |
100 |
151 |
179 |
184 |
|
76062B |
Castleknock Community College |
Carpenterstown_D15 |
210 |
238 |
240 |
240 |
210 |
|
76130P |
Luttrellstown Community College |
Carpenterstown_D15 |
198 |
212 |
209 |
184 |
195 |
|
|
|
Totals |
755 |
810 |
834 |
863 |
829 |
Table 2
|
Roll Number |
Official Name |
School Planning Area |
6th Class 2020 |
6th Class 2021 |
6th Class 2022 |
6th Class 2023 |
6th Class 2024 |
|
00697S |
ST BRIGIDS MXD N S |
Castleknock_D15 |
118 |
118 |
116 |
114 |
115 |
|
17891J |
SCOIL MHUIRE |
Castleknock_D15 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
40 |
30 |
|
18623M |
SCOIL NAISUNTA CHNUACHA |
Castleknock_D15 |
26 |
25 |
30 |
26 |
28 |
|
19769W |
SCOIL THOMAIS |
Carpenterstown_D15 |
84 |
103 |
78 |
97 |
73 |
|
20098I |
Castleknock Educate Together NS |
Castleknock_D15 |
56 |
56 |
53 |
54 |
53 |
|
20130B |
ST PATRICKS NS |
Carpenterstown_D15 |
86 |
113 |
86 |
87 |
110 |
|
20241K |
Scoil Choilm Community NS |
Carpenterstown_D15 |
113 |
118 |
103 |
112 |
113 |
|
|
|
Total |
513 |
564 |
497 |
530 |
522 |
Table 3
|
Roll Number |
Official School Name |
School Planning area |
Enrolments 2020 |
Enrolments 2021 |
Enrolments 2022 |
Enrolments 2023 |
Enrolments 2024 |
|
60100Q |
Castleknock College |
Castleknock_D15 |
705 |
720 |
741 |
771 |
775 |
|
60120W |
Mount Sackville Secondary School |
Castleknock_D15 |
659 |
659 |
673 |
658 |
654 |
|
68306H |
Edmund Rice College |
Castleknock_D15 |
249 |
350 |
516 |
678 |
813 |
|
76062B |
Castleknock Community College |
Carpenterstown_D15 |
1,181 |
1,218 |
1,244 |
1,274 |
1,290 |
|
76130P |
Luttrellstown Community College |
Carpenterstown_D15 |
918 |
960 |
984 |
981 |
998 |
|
|
|
Total |
3,712 |
3,907 |
4,158 |
4,362 |
4,530 |
429. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details on schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73381/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra430. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details on schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73382/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 429 and 430 together.
The requested data is set out in the following tables. Data provided is for academic year 2024-2025. Data for previous years is unavailable at this time but we will update the Deputy in the new year with data for years requested when available.
Table 1
|
SPA Name |
2024 |
|
Carpenterstown_D15 |
244 |
|
BlanchardstownVge_D15 |
168 |
|
Castleknock_D15 |
142 |
|
Mulhuddart_Tyrrelstown_D15 |
65 |
|
Blanchardstown_West_D15 |
46 |
|
Cabra_Phibsboro_D7 |
30 |
|
Scribblestown_FinglasWest |
20 |
|
Lucan |
13 |
|
Maynooth |
10 |
|
Celbridge |
7 |
|
Ratoath |
7 |
|
Dunboyne |
7 |
|
Ballyfermot_D10 |
7 |
|
Ashbourne |
7 |
|
Dunshaughlin |
6 |
|
Dublin_8 |
<5 |
|
Prosperous_Clane |
<5 |
|
Swords |
<5 |
|
FinglasEast_BallymunD11 |
<5 |
|
Kilcock |
<5 |
|
Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin1 |
<5 |
|
Trim |
<5 |
|
Leixlip |
<5 |
|
Greystones |
<5 |
|
Firhouse_Oldbawn |
<5 |
|
Navan |
<5 |
|
Newcastle_Rathcoole |
<5 |
|
Dolphin's Barn_D12 |
<5 |
|
Clondalkin_D22 |
<5 |
|
Beaumont_CoolockD5 |
<5 |
Table 2
|
SPA Name |
2024 |
Total |
|
Carpenterstown_D15 |
1289 |
1289 |
|
BlanchardstownVge_D15 |
960 |
960 |
|
Castleknock_D15 |
631 |
631 |
|
Mulhuddart_Tyrrelstown_D15 |
324 |
324 |
|
Blanchardstown_West_D15 |
310 |
310 |
|
Cabra_Phibsboro_D7 |
196 |
196 |
|
Lucan |
116 |
116 |
|
Scribblestown_FinglasWest |
101 |
101 |
|
Ratoath |
76 |
76 |
|
Maynooth |
75 |
75 |
|
Dunboyne |
52 |
52 |
|
Ballyfermot_D10 |
40 |
40 |
|
Dunshaughlin |
34 |
34 |
|
Celbridge |
30 |
30 |
|
Ashbourne |
26 |
26 |
|
Trim |
22 |
22 |
|
Kilcock |
21 |
21 |
|
Leixlip |
18 |
18 |
|
Navan |
18 |
18 |
|
Dublin_8 |
17 |
17 |
|
Swords |
12 |
12 |
|
FinglasEast_BallymunD11 |
8 |
8 |
|
Prosperous_Clane |
8 |
8 |
|
Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin1 |
5 |
5 |
|
Killester_Raheny_Clontarf |
5 |
5 |
|
Beaumont_CoolockD5 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Longwood |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Newcastle_Rathcoole |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Portmarnock |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Clondalkin_D22 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Dolphin's Barn_D12 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Donabate |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Donaghmede_Howth_D13 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Dublin2_Dublin4 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Balbriggan |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Darndale_D17 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Firhouse_Oldbawn |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Malahide_Nevinstown |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Naas |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Oldcastle |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Palmerstown_Ronanstown_D20_22 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Whitehall_SantryD9 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Ballyjamesduff |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Booterstown_Blackrock |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Bray |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Drogheda |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Dublin6_Clonskeagh |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Edenderry |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Greystones |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Monasterevin |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Portlaoise |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Skerries |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Tallaght |
<5 |
<5 |
431. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the following case (details supplied) and if she will instruct her Department to ensure that the child in question is able to have adequate transport to school. [73385/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Unfortunately, Bus Éireann has reported difficulties in specific locations with a small number of contracted services, where it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles and/or drivers. The pupil referred to by the Deputy is assigned to one of these routes.
These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability, or where either zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one. The Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and Garda vetting clearance of a contractor to operate this service.
In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and while Bus Éireann are in the process of establishing the service for the child referred, the Department will offer an Interim Special Transport Grant (STG) to families of eligible children towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This is based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable service becomes available. The family has been contacted in this regard.
432. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of male and female teachers in primary schools on a county-by-county breakdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73410/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra433. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of male and female teachers in post primary schools on a county-by-county breakdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73411/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra434. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of male and female teachers in primary schools across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73412/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra435. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of male and female teachers in post primary schools across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73413/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra436. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of male teachers and female teachers in the education system at both primary and secondary level each year for the period 2015 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73414/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 432 to 436, inclusive, together.
This Government is fully committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning.
The Department produces and publishes a range of data on teachers including the gender of teachers appointed. The data including the number of male and female teachers in the education system at both primary and post-primary level each year for the period 2015 to 2025 may be found on the Teacher Statistics section to the Department's website, using this link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/teacher-statistics/
The ratio of female to male teachers in primary and post-primary schools (Excl ETBs) in the 2024/25 school year was 6:1 and 2:1 respectively.
In addition, the Department recently published 3 reports on teacher supply including data on an analysis of the Teaching Council register, a survey of substitutes and a survey of teacher unmet demand in post-primary schools.
An analysis of teacher payroll data, as of March 2025, shows there are 79,225 teachers employed in our schools across the country with 43,221 at primary level including special schools and 36,004 in post-primary schools.
From data provided by the Department’s payroll in June 2025 for the 2024/2025 school year, there were 68,175 teachers (excluding principals) in primary and post-primary schools (excluding ETBs).
|
- |
Number of Teachers** |
% of Total number of teachers |
|
Primary (Female) |
37,757 |
55.38% |
|
Primary (Male) |
6,356 |
9.32% |
|
Post-Primary (Female)* |
16,485 |
24.18% |
|
Post-Primary (Male)* |
7,577 |
11.11% |
|
Total |
68,175 |
|
*Excludes ETB Teachers
**Excludes principals
Note: the figures in the above table are extracted from Payroll databases on 30th June each year which includes contracted and casual teachers.
Primary School Teachers by County
|
- |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
Carlow |
521 |
77 |
598 |
|
Cavan |
658 |
99 |
757 |
|
Clare |
883 |
194 |
1,077 |
|
Cork |
4,218 |
899 |
5,117 |
|
Donegal |
1,308 |
204 |
1,512 |
|
Dublin |
8,904 |
1,789 |
10,693 |
|
Galway |
2,049 |
403 |
2,452 |
|
Kerry |
1,090 |
238 |
1,328 |
|
Kildare |
1,723 |
307 |
2,030 |
|
Kilkenny |
662 |
138 |
800 |
|
Laois |
727 |
144 |
871 |
|
Leitrim |
257 |
36 |
293 |
|
Limerick |
1,574 |
346 |
1,920 |
|
Longford |
390 |
67 |
457 |
|
Louth |
1,117 |
222 |
1,339 |
|
Mayo |
1,020 |
195 |
1,215 |
|
Meath |
1,611 |
297 |
1,908 |
|
Monaghan |
526 |
57 |
583 |
|
Offaly |
696 |
115 |
811 |
|
Roscommon |
558 |
96 |
654 |
|
Sligo |
491 |
78 |
569 |
|
Tipperary |
1,255 |
250 |
1,505 |
|
Waterford |
921 |
174 |
1,095 |
|
Westmeath |
754 |
134 |
888 |
|
Wexford |
1,232 |
199 |
1431 |
|
Wicklow |
1,159 |
159 |
1318 |
|
Total |
36,304 |
6,917 |
43,221 |
Note: The county-by-county data provided above is extracted from the March 2025 payroll analysis.
Post-Primary School Teachers by County
|
- |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
Carlow |
240 |
96 |
336 |
|
Cavan |
199 |
94 |
293 |
|
Clare |
404 |
174 |
578 |
|
Cork |
1,992 |
935 |
2,927 |
|
Donegal |
514 |
223 |
737 |
|
Dublin |
4,087 |
2,101 |
6,188 |
|
Galway |
991 |
457 |
1,448 |
|
Kerry |
561 |
248 |
809 |
|
Kildare |
709 |
321 |
1,030 |
|
Kilkenny |
281 |
151 |
432 |
|
Laois |
272 |
128 |
400 |
|
Leitrim |
91 |
34 |
125 |
|
Limerick |
596 |
287 |
883 |
|
Longford |
177 |
75 |
252 |
|
Louth |
565 |
237 |
802 |
|
Mayo |
560 |
209 |
769 |
|
Meath |
442 |
189 |
631 |
|
Monaghan |
163 |
81 |
244 |
|
Offaly |
256 |
114 |
370 |
|
Roscommon |
205 |
96 |
301 |
|
Sligo |
254 |
107 |
361 |
|
Tipperary |
570 |
257 |
827 |
|
Waterford |
455 |
210 |
665 |
|
Westmeath |
399 |
172 |
571 |
|
Wexford |
572 |
276 |
848 |
|
Wicklow |
390 |
198 |
588 |
|
Total |
15,945 |
7,470 |
23,415 |
Note: The county-by-county data provided above is extracted from the March 2025 payroll analysis.
Post-Primary School Teachers by ETB
|
- |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
Cavan – Monaghan ETB |
408 |
160 |
568 |
|
City of Dublin ETB |
276 |
160 |
436 |
|
Cork ETB |
906 |
443 |
1,349 |
|
Donegal ETB |
401 |
184 |
585 |
|
Dublin - Dun Laoghaire ETB |
1,307 |
612 |
1,919 |
|
Galway - Roscommon ETB |
497 |
261 |
758 |
|
Kerry ETB |
212 |
104 |
316 |
|
Kildare – Wicklow ETB |
959 |
439 |
1,398 |
|
Kilkenny – Carlow ETB |
353 |
171 |
524 |
|
Laois – Offaly ETB |
289 |
143 |
432 |
|
Limerick – Clare ETB |
604 |
280 |
884 |
|
Longford – Westmeath ETB |
242 |
126 |
368 |
|
Louth – Meath ETB |
855 |
435 |
1,290 |
|
Mayo-Sligo-Leitrim ETB |
383 |
172 |
555 |
|
Tipperary ETB |
350 |
182 |
532 |
|
Waterford – Wexford ETB |
441 |
204 |
645 |
|
Total |
8,483 |
4,076 |
12,559 |
Note: The ETB data provided above is extracted from the March 2025 payroll analysis.
To address teacher supply issues, my Department has implemented several measures that have led to:
• an increase of 20% in Initial Teacher Education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and
• over 30% increase in the number of teachers registered with the Teaching Council since 2017.
The Department provides a range of measures to address teacher supply. The Department announced new measures in 2025 including assisting teachers gain permanent roles more quickly and approving regulations recently to allow teachers who qualified overseas to undertake their induction in the State. In addition, measures including a STEM bursary, an expansion of upskilling programmes, improving the availability of substitution and continuing promotion of teaching as a profession have been introduced.
My Department remains committed to supporting a diverse and sustainable teaching workforce and is currently developing a strategic workforce plan for the teaching profession, in partnership with UNESCO and supported by the European Commission’s Technical Support Instrument. This plan will include analysis of workforce demographics and is expected to report in mid 2026.
The Department will continue to consider further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.
437. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in schools across the state at primary and post primary level with a diagnosis of an additional need ad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73415/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided.
This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
The department does not hold centralised comparative data on the level of individual student needs. Such data is maintained at individual school level and detailed within the individual student support file held by the school.
The Continuum of Support is the framework developed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for schools to identify, plan and provide support for children and young people who experience difficulties with their learning. NEPS supports schools in implementing the Continuum of Support framework with each school taking responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and supports for children and young people with special educational needs. Under this model, a child or young person does not require a psychological assessment diagnosis in order to access additional support at school.
This Continuum of Support framework recognises that special educational needs occur along a continuum, ranging from mild to more significant, and from transient to enduring. It recognises that children require different levels of support depending on their identified educational needs, and that needs may change over time.
Using this framework helps to ensure flexible and timely allocation of supports, so that those children with the greatest level of need have access to the greatest level of support.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
438. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of boys and girls in primary school which have a diagnosis of an additional need; the breakdown by gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73416/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I will arrange for your query to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.
