Written Answers Nos. 563-582
563. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently review primary school survey results in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34267/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 4 November 2025, my department published a 'Framework and action plan for delivery of increased choice for parents on education provision at primary level'. The main focus of this framework and action plan was an online, school-specific survey. The survey ran from 4 November to 16 December 2025.
Through the survey, my department is obtaining clear information on the preferences of parents and guardians about the primary schools which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years, on a number of important areas of primary school provision, including patronage/ethos, co-education or single-sex school provision and language of instruction (English or Irish).
The results of the survey will help my department to plan how education at primary level is provided.
I recently announced the high-level national and county summary results in respect of the preferences of parents with children currently in primary school.
My department is continuing its detailed analysis of the survey data and is preparing finalised school-specific reports. These school reports will also include the preferences of parents and guardians of children who are not yet in primary school and will be issued to all primary schools soon. This is in line with the commitment for school-level data to be provided in Q2 2026.
564. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the appeal submitted by the board of management of a school (details supplied), seeking the retention of a mainstream teaching post for the 2026/2027 school year, having regard to the school’s confirmed and projected enrolment growth, increasing pressure at infant level, and its role in meeting local educational and special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34272/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally.
The primary school staffing arrangements for the 2026/27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. These arrangements contain an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board will meet shortly and schools will be notified of the Board's decisions.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
565. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of emergency works applications her Department received each year for each of the past five years; the number of refused applications, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34311/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.
With regards to the number of emergency works applications received each year for each of the past five years and the number of refused applications, please see below:
|
Year |
Number of Applications |
Number of refusals |
|
2026 |
536 |
79 |
|
2025 |
1413 |
273 |
|
2024 |
1265 |
198 |
|
2023 |
1113 |
173 |
|
2022 |
844 |
100 |
566. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average duration, as opposed to indicative timelines, that schools spend at each stage of the delivery process for projects under the School Building Programme; to provide a comparison of these durations with the time spent by a specified list of schools (details supplied) at each stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34317/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department prioritises projects to balance urgency, equity, and available resources, ensuring that investments are sustainable, phased appropriately, and provide maximum value for money.
Project progression depends on a range of factors, including the readiness of individual projects, planning approvals, land availability, and within the context of NDP funding parameters.
Regular monitoring and updates are provided to maintain transparency and support informed decision-making across the school estate.
The timing of project progression reflects careful planning to ensure that projects are delivered efficiently, align with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines and Capital Works Management Framework and remain within the parameters of NDP funding.
In moving projects forward, the Department maintains a strong focus on delivering value for money, affordability, and include phasing arrangements where necessary to ensure that spending remains sustainable.
Functionality, long-term suitability, and the specific needs of schools, including special education requirement, are also considered at each stage.
This approach ensures that projects not only progress in a timely manner but also deliver maximum value for money and target priorities of the school estate.
As such, it is impossible to provide a comparison of these durations with the time spent by a specified the schools referred to by the Deputy at each stage of the Major Projects.
567. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on section 69 of the Government’s Action Plan submitted to the Committee of Ministers on 30 July 2025 in a case (details supplied); to specify the current position in respect of the approximately 40 further letters of claim and/or proceedings received since the June 2024 settlements; and the actions that have been taken to date in response to those claims. [34318/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual or specific cases referred to in his question, which may be the subject of potential litigation.
I can advise the Deputy however that a range of measures have been put in place to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgement in O’Keeffe v Ireland, which are set out in detail in the Action Plan. These include extensive measures to improve child protection in schools and the provision of an ex gratia payment scheme.
Specific measures which have been taken to implement the judgement include:
• the development and implementation of robust child protection measures, which includes enhanced mechanisms in respect of detection and reporting (including mandatory reporting) of child protection concerns
• measures in place to support Primary and Post-Primary schools to comply with their statutory obligations under the Children First Act 2015
• vetting and other measures and
• the development and operation of the ex gratia scheme, to provide compensation to individuals falling within the scope of the O’Keeffe judgement
The child protection measures which are now in place have ensured that there is a very strong culture of child protection across the school sector.
In addition, the development of an ex gratia scheme to address discontinued cases, and the settlement of extant and new cases that are not statute barred following the 2014 judgement, has provided an effective remedy to individuals falling within the scope of the ECtHR’s judgement.
Finally, I wish to explain that my Department provides regular updates to the Council of Europe regarding Ireland's implementation of the ECtHR judgement. The State has filed 18 such Action Plans to date, which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
568. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34321/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school building under the Additional School Accommodation scheme for a project providing one mainstream classroom. This project is devolved for delivery to the School Authority.
A Stage 2b (post planning) report was recently submitted to my department and is currently under review. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the Infrastructure Guidelines. Given the detailed nature of the evaluation process, the need to ensure full cost compliance, and the requirement to align the project with the prioritisation framework under the National Development Plan, this review process is necessarily thorough. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall programme.
As the deputy is aware my Department recently published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the department led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, my department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
The accommodation needs at this school will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
569. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the drawdown of summer works scheme funding approved for a school (details supplied) in October 2025; the current status of that funding; whether any issues are delaying drawdown; and to indicate when the school can expect to be in a position to draw down the approved funding. [34326/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis that, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The CASWS operates on a multi-annual basis across a number of categories of works. The new CASWS closed for applications on the 30th June 2025 and a total of 1,430 schools made applications under the scheme.
In November 2025, my colleague the former Minister, Helen McEntee TD, announced the first tranche of approvals under the new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS). 297 projects were approved to proceed in 2026, this included 99 remaining projects from the previous Summer Works Scheme, which included the school in question.
All approved schools have been contacted by my department and informed as to next steps in order to progress their projects which included an instruction to forward a full set of pretender documents to my Department for review and approval prior to any tender process taking place. This is done to ensure that all works are in compliance with building regulations, procurement regulations and the Departments guidelines and that works are completed to the highest standard and for the school and the schools current and future students.
The school in question did not follow this procedure and went straight to tender and following review of their Tender documentation a number of issues in relation to their Tender were identified and this has been sent to the school for comment and response. This highlights the importance of schools following the procedures and guidelines provided as a situation such as this could have been avoided. It is with the school now to provide a response to my Department’s technical evaluation in order to progress this project.
Full details of the new CASWS, Circular (0029/2025) for the scheme and guidance documents for schools can be found at the below link:
[Summer Works Scheme] (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/summer-works-scheme/)
570. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the payment process for State examination fees; the reason the fees are not collected through schools as part of existing school payment systems; the reason parents are required to use a separate SEC portal with separate log-in details; the reason parents are required to manage a process that schools are structurally closer to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34361/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2026, the Government has reintroduced examination entry fees at the same rate as when they were last charged in 2019. Fee rates for the 2026 examinations, which have remained unchanged since 2012, are:
• €116 for Leaving Certificate candidates
• €109 for Junior Cycle candidates
Not all families are liable to pay examination fees. Any student with a full medical card, or covered under a parent or guardian’s card, will continue to be fully exempt. This approach strikes a fair balance, maintaining support for those who need it most while restoring a long-standing contribution towards the cost of running the examinations system.
Since the announcement, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has communicated with candidates and school authorities about the reintroduction of examination fees. The SEC’s online fee collection facility went live on 19 March 2026, providing a user-friendly service for paying the fee or claiming an exemption. The process is straightforward, transparent, and well signposted, with full details available from the SEC at Examination Fees - State Examinations Commission (www.fees.examinations.ie/). Instructions on how to use the online fee service are set out in the User Guide at www.fees.examinations.ie/. Phone and email help desk services are available to school authorities and families who need assistance. Those who might have a difficulty using the online facility to make a payment or to apply for an exemption are advised to contact Fees Section in the SEC by e-mail at fees@examinations.ie for assistance.
By way of background the online Examination Fee Payment Portal was developed in 2018 to allow candidates to pay examination fees or submit an application for a fee waiver. In 2019, almost all candidates used the Examination Fee Payment Portal. In addition, candidates who paid their examination fees online in 2019 and were due a refund were reimbursed directly to the appropriate account. In previous years, the monies had to be distributed manually through the schools. This added further stress to parents/guardians, candidates and schools.
In 2026 school authorities were required to support the State Examinations Commission in the fee collection arrangements by notifying candidates and parents/guardians of how to pay the fee or claim fee exemption through the SEC’s online fee service which opened at 2 pm on Thursday 19 March. Schools supported this process by arranging for the distribution of individualised letters containing details to access the online service to candidates and their families.
571. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places that will be available in a special school (details supplied); if she will provide information on the application and selection process for these places and details of the catchment area for this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34363/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra583. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details regarding the new special school announced for Citywest; the timeline for and details of the project; when enrolment will be opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34413/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra592. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the special education school will open in Balbriggan. [34634/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 571, 583 and 592 together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.
Four new special schools were recently announced by Ministers Naughton and Moynihan to be established in Balbriggan, CityWest, Bray and Monasterevin. Dedicated working groups including the Department, the NCSE and relevant patron body continue to meet to support the establishment of the new special schools. It is expected that details in relation to the admissions process and number of places will be confirmed shortly. The NCSE will continue to advise parents at local level on developments.
The NCSE remains available to provide advice and support to all families seeking specialist placement.
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 achieve their full potential.
572. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of negotiations regarding pension parity, occupational sick leave, and bereavement leave for school secretaries and caretakers; to provide a specific timeline for the implementation of these benefits following the Labour Court hearing on 12 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34383/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool secretaries and caretakers are at the heart of the school and are the key interface between students, parents, school leaders, and other staff. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. In supporting these vital school staff members, we also support the school community as a whole.
My Department has been engaging with Fórsa and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation over the past number of months under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a number of claims, including a claim for a comparable pension entitlement.
The matter was referred to the Labour Court. The parties remain in process, and my department remains committed and ready to engage with Fórsa to reach a resolution on this important matter. As with any industrial relations process, where engagement is sensitive and complex, the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.
573. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to reduce the time it takes to achieve a Professional Master's in Education (PME) from two years to one year, taking into account the cost of undertaking a PME; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34402/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary and post-primary teachers. Changes to the duration and content of initial teacher education (ITE) programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s accreditation standards.
What was previously the ‘H-Dip’ of 18 months for primary and 1 year for post-primary has now become the two-year PME for both. These standards were developed following extensive research and consultation to ensure the programme would effectively develop the skills, knowledge, understanding, and professional values expected of newly qualified teachers.
The reforms aimed to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools, which is central to the educational outcomes of children. The extended duration allows for substantial periods of school placement and includes mandatory elements such as literacy, numeracy, and ICT in teaching and learning. These reforms are also intended to ensure that graduating teachers are best placed to support learners from all backgrounds, including students with additional learning needs.
In addition to the above, there have also been several major changes for teachers in recent times, including the redeveloped primary curriculum and senior cycle reform, which both ITE programmes and their students need to factor into already full PME programmes. The Department therefore considers it necessary for PME programmes to continue to be two years in length, in order to provide teachers with the tools that they need to become successful teachers in the modern classroom.
574. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers that are currently undertaking a PME across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34403/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department does not have these complete figures to hand and will revert to the deputy directly regarding his query.
575. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will consider implementing an updated circular for schools requiring students to use digital devices to ensure that affordability and reusability, particularly between siblings, are accounted for in a universal approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34404/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe department's strategy on ICT in schools, the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, does not mandate or prescribe the use of any particular devices or technologies in teaching and learning. The Strategy is concerned with the deeper embedding of digital technologies in education, to develop digital literacy and competency, critical thinking, and enhance collaborative learning. It is not merely about replacing physical textbooks and resources with digital versions accessed via a digital device.
Through the digital strategy, schools are directly funded for ICT and have autonomy to determine which infrastructure and devices (including tablets or laptops) are utilised, in line with their Digital Learning Plans. Schools must also have acceptable usage policies in place and may use ICT funding to support new curricula and assessment.
Department guidance states that schools should support equitable access to ICT for all students and may provide devices on loan to students (via loan schemes) where required. Schools are also advised to consult with parents and the wider school community when developing technology policies that may involve costs for families. However, there is no dedicated funding stream for one-to-one student devices. Schools have flexibility to use their ICT grants to meet local priorities, including infrastructure, maintenance and device provision, within available resources.
It should be noted that under the Education Act, the Boards of Management of Schools have responsibility for the day to day management of schools. Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications being fully considered by the Boards of Management before a decision is made.
I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in relation to costs of digital technology, including tablets, and my Department continues to work to help support schools and families meet these costs. A number of measures are in place to support educators and parents, as part of my department’s ongoing commitment to reduce financial pressure on families and ensure every student is supported to succeed. This includes an instruction from my department to schools to consult with parents and their school community on the issue of ensuring costs are reasonable for parents, and how to avoid costs acting as a barrier - wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified (e.g. uniform, clothing, IT tablets, sports equipment etc.). Schools should also provide a full list of required items, with guidance on best-value options. Circular 32/2017 sets out the measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs.
Under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, some €200 million has been committed through the National Development Plan for school ICT, with around €170 million already allocated to schools. The most recent tranche of the ICT Grant €35 million which issued to schools in January 2026. Funding is provided through annual ICT grants based on a flat-rate per school and a per-student amount, and must be used for ICT infrastructure, including networks, classroom technology, software and shared student devices. To provide certainty for schools, the ICT grant payment timeline has been standardised, with payments now scheduled for the December/January period each year.
Additionally, to assist schools, the OGP, ASERIA (formally HEAnet), as well as my Department, have established a number of frameworks of providers of digital devices including tablets, pcs and laptops, with appropriate specifications, agreed pricing, and levels of service, as well as providing framework management. Schools are encouraged to avail of these frameworks which will enable them to comply with procurement requirements and achieve agreed, transparent, pricing.
576. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in County Meath who have applied for the emergency works scheme in the past 12 months; the status of each application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34406/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.
With regards to the question, 34 schools in county Meath have applied for EWS in the past 12 months with a total of 64 EWS applications with 33 of these projects being approved for funding, 5 currently being reviewed by the Departments technical team, 9 of which the Department is awaiting further information from the school and 17 were not approved as they did not meet the criteria set out in Circular Letter 0068/2020.
577. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding allocated to schools in County Meath under the summer works scheme in each of the past three years, by school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34407/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for categories of works such as roof works, window replacement, mechanical and electrical works, external works etc.
In November 2025, my colleague the former Minister, Helen McEntee TD, announced the first tranche of approvals under the new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS). 297 projects were approved to proceed in 2026, this included 99 remaining projects from the previous Summer Works Scheme. Which included 10 schools in the county of Meath.
Since 2020 my department has provided funding to the value of €199m under the Summer works scheme to schools. The below table sets out the funding provided under the Summer Works Scheme in each of the past 3 years for the county of Meath as per the Deputy's request:
|
County |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Total Spend |
|
Meath |
2,620,882 |
80,670 |
745,590 |
3,447,142 |
578. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications her Department has received for the school transport scheme from County Meath as of Tuesday 5 May 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34408/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The closing date for applications and payments for the 2026/27 school year was 08 May 2026 and the Bus Éireann Family Portal is now temporarily closed.
Bus Éireann are currently assessing all on time applications and payments received and planning for routes and services for the 2026/27 school year.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available at this time.
579. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in County Meath currently without a confirmed post-primary school place for the 2026/2027 academic year; the measures being implemented to address this shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34409/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority of mine.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very large-scale operation that is transacted at close to 4,000 schools across the country, involving some 140,000 pupils.
My department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The provision of post-primary school places and the operation of admissions processes are matters for individual school authorities, in line with their published admissions policies and relevant legislation. Schools determine their own intake numbers and maintain their own enrolment and waiting list information.
The Department does not centrally collate or hold a definitive dataset of available places or waiting lists by school planning area or County. Information on first-year intake numbers for individual schools is published in each school’s Admissions Notice on their respective websites. National enrolment data is available on gov.ie.
580. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the average primary school class size and ratio in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34410/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe average mainstream class size in County Meath is 22.8 as per the 2024 Primary Class Size tables published on the DEY website and can be found at the link below. We expect to publish class data for the 2025-2026 academic year in June 2026.
[www.gov.ie/en/collection/class-size-information-at-individual-primary-school-level/] .
Teacher allocations are made to clusters of schools that cross over county boundaries, and ETBs which include multiple counties, therefore pupil teacher ratio (PTR) by county is not available.
Priority was given in recent Budgets to reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level. Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools have also been improved and now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.
In 2015, teachers were allocated to primary schools at a general average of 28 pupils for every one teacher. In the same 10 year period, average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.9 to 22.2 and the pupil : teacher ratio shows the ratio of pupils to teachers improve from 16:1 to 12.8:1. In addition to the reductions in the teacher allocation ratio, a three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
581. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of substitute teachers available to schools in County Meath; the impact of shortages on teaching provision; the steps being taken to address these shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34411/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is 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.??
There are more qualified teachers than ever working in Ireland. As of November 2025, there are over 75,000 teachers employed in Irish schools, including 39,300 at primary level, 34,600 at post-primary level and 1,870 in special schools. This analysis found that 2.5% of allocations (996 posts) in primary and 0.7% of allocations (247 posts) in post-primary were unutilised.? Few teachers resign, with less than 3% of the teaching workforce resigning or retiring annually from contracted teaching posts.
Teaching is an attractive profession, and there are a significant number of newly qualified teachers graduating annually. Over 3,600 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2025 and CAO data shows a consistent demand for undergraduate ITE programmes. Salaries are competitive, currently starting at €45,379 (primary) and €46,948 (post-primary) and rising to €83,000 and €85,000 respectively under the current pay deal.
According to Department payroll data from March 2025, there were 2,311 unfilled teaching posts in Meath, 1,701 at primary level (3.1% of allocations) and 610 at post-primary (2.6% of allocations). Department data shows that there were 40,713 days substitution claimed for through the Online Claims System in Meath in the 2024/25 school year, an 11% decrease on days substitution claimed in the previous school year 2023/24. In 2024/25, just 7% of substituted days were provided by persons not registered with the Teaching Council.
There are a range of measures in place to improve the availability of substitutes to schools.
Substitutable leave absences may be filled by schools in several ways.? A substitute teacher may be recruited locally by a school, and a claim for payment for the teacher may be submitted to my Department, via the Online Claims System. Alternatively, the absence may be covered by schools under a number of schemes, which are managed locally by schools.?
The Supervision and Substitution Scheme allows for the supervision of students during breaks and before and after school and allows for substitution to cover certain categories of teacher absences. With effect from the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, participation in the Supervision and Substitution scheme is compulsory for teachers, save for those who had availed of the opt-out arrangements before this date.?All schools therefore provide cover for a significant number of substitutable absences, arising over the school year, through the Supervision and Substitution scheme.?
For primary schools, substitute teacher supply panels are also in place. For the 2025/26 school year, 587 substitute teacher supply posts have been allocated to 168 panels, covering 2,905 schools This scheme provides substitute cover for teachers employed in primary schools who are absent on short-term leave. Absences covered by the teacher supply panels are recorded locally by the schools and the schools are not required to claim for the substitutable leave to my Department.?
The Department has continued the suspension of the usual limits on career break and job-sharing schemes to the current school year 2025/26 to increase the pool of teachers available to undertake substitute work in primary and post-primary schools.
Communications campaigns have also been run to encourage retired teachers to return to teaching and student teachers registered under Route 5 with the Teaching Council provide valuable substitution cover.
In addition, the Government has implemented several measures to address teacher supply issues more generally that have led to:
- an increase of 20% in initial teacher education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and
- an over 30% increase in the number of teachers registered with the Teaching Council since 2017.
These include improving tenure for teachers; teachers taking up their first contract in a viable post will be eligible for a permanent position after one year, subject to successful re-appointment through a competitive process.
Recently regulations were approved to allow?teachers who qualified overseas?to undertake their?induction in the State and incremental credit is also available to teachers returning from abroad, depending on the teaching experience gained.
A number of measures have been introduced to address subject-specific teacher shortages:
- STEM Bursary: a €2k annual bursary for student teachers in STEM fields during the final two years of their undergraduate teacher education, with a requirement to complete at least 2 years of teaching post-qualification in a recognised post-primary school.
- Upskilling programmes: free upskilling programmes for teachers are offered in high-demand subjects: Irish, French, politics and society, computer science, maths, physics, and Spanish.
A comprehensive workforce plan for the education sector, a commitment under the Programme for Government, is in development. Additionally,?a?project focused on strategic workforce planning for teachers in Ireland, led by UNESCO and supported by the EU Commission, is developing recommendations for addressing the main factors affecting teacher supply in Ireland. The recommendations put forward in the context of the project will form the basis for the development by my Department of a strategic workforce plan for the teaching workforce in Ireland.
582. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has carried out an audit on the condition of school buildings in County Meath; the findings of such an audit; the funding that is allocated to school building improvements for the year 2026/2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34412/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has recently completed the data collection phase of the Schools Energy and Condition Inventory Survey for schools in County Meath. The site visits are undertaken by professional energy assessors who input the data onto a tablet on site and this is then uploaded onto the Department’s Information Management platform. The quality assurance and validation phase is yet to be completed. It is envisaged that this inventory will be completed by the end of 2026 and will be kept up to date as projects are completed.
The NDP Sectoral Investment Plan involves a capital investment of €7.55bn in our schools and Youth Sector for the 2026 to 2030 period. This investment builds on progress made over recent years and will support the operation of the school system and the Youth sector with the necessary infrastructure and facilities for the years ahead.
It is envisaged that this €7.55bn funding will be used as follows:
- €5 billion of NDP funding to support prioritised project rollout to provide additional capacity and modernisation of facilities with strong special education dimension to all projects
- €2.25 billion of NDP funding to focus on supporting the existing school estate in terms of maintenance, minor works and ICT grant funding, Climate Action Summer Works Scheme, other climate programmes and also increased capital funding for the Youth Sector.
- €0.3 billion to be used as a contingency fund for 2026 to 2030 period.
Since 2020, the Department of Education has provided €473.11 million in capital funding for Meath schools.
Over this period, a total of 62 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation.
There are currently 13 school projects in Meath under construction.
Another 7 school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027, and this summer, 10 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.
In addition, since 2020 a total of 125 special classes have been sanctioned in Meath, of which 18 were sanctioned for September 2026.
