Written Answers Nos. 485-504
485. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students registered in transition year in 2026; the estimated cost of increasing the transition year grant by €100 from September 2027 to December 2027; and the estimated cost for a full year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45548/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the first part of the Deputy’s question refers to the 2025/26 school year. The preliminary figure for the number of students registered in Transition Year for the 2025/26 school year as per the October Returns is 62,065 students. This figure represents the fourth consecutive year of record Transition Year enrolment.
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. On this basis, it is not possible to estimate the cost of the grant for the 2027/28 school year as schools have yet to complete the October Returns process in respect of the 2026/27 school year.
To assist the Deputy, however, the increase referenced may instead be indicatively modelled using the current preliminary enrolment figures for the 2025/26 school year as a base. This increase would see a doubling of the current Transition Year grant rate from the restored €100 grant rate to €200 per recognised Transition Year student. The proposed increase would be a full year cost increase effective from September 2027 as the new rate would be paid in full in June 2027 for the 2027/28 school year. Accordingly the total cost of the Transition Year grant would then amount to €12.4 million payable in June 2027.
The Transition Year grant is an important part of supporting schools in offering this valuable programme. It should be noted, however, that schools in the Free Education Scheme are also supported in offering Transition Year through the payment of regular capitation payments which are received in addition to the Transition Year Grant.
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.
Transition Year is also supported through the payment of teachers’ salaries and the provision of capital funding to schools.
I remain committed to the goal set out in the Programme for Government to promote the expansion of the Transition Year programme and address the barriers faced by some students in accessing it.?My officials and I continue to explore the measures that can be taken to achieve this, including considering supports to offset costs associated with the programme.
486. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the Student Absence Reports (SAR) 2024/2025 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45568/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra502. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth regarding the Student Absence Reports (SAR) 2023/2024, the number of the 1,265 suspensions at primary level which were in DEIS schools; the number of the 11,627 suspensions at post-primary level which were in DEIS schools; the number of the 27 expulsions from primary schools which were in DEIS schools; and the number of the 150 expulsions from post-primary schools which were in DEIS schools. [45674/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 502 together.
Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is under the remit of my department and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention.
Section 21 (6) of the Act provides that all recognised primary and post primary schools, including special schools, submit an Annual Attendance Report (AAR) to TESS on student non-attendance at an aggregated level, within six weeks of the end of the school year.
The AAR provides four pieces of data in respect of all students enrolled in the school;
• total days lost by all students,
• total students absent for 20 or more days,
• total students suspended,
• total students expelled at the school level.
In accordance with Section 21 (4) of the Act, Student Absence Reports (SARs) are submitted to TESS by recognised schools and provide data only on those students aged over 6 years and under 16 years, who are absent for a cumulative total of 20 or more days in the school year, by the recorded reason for their absence. The recorded absence reasons are; illness, urgent, holiday, suspension or other.
The number of suspensions in DEIS primary and post-primary schools in the 2023/2024 school year is published in the AAR/SAR Report for the 2023/24 school year, available at the following link: Analysis_of_School_Attendance_Data_2023-24.pdf www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Analysis_of_School_Attendance_Data_2023-24.pdf.
The AAR/SAR Report for the 2024/25 school year is due for publication later in 2026.
487. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth to respond to matters raised in correspondence by a school (details supplied); the reason the criteria relating to the allocation of teaching posts for English as an additional language has changed; if specific communication was given to schools of the changes in the application for these posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45569/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has adapted to the dynamic landscape of student enrolment and has prioritised enhancing English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, recognising the critical role of language.
All schools are advised in the first instance to review whether the needs of newly enrolled pupils can be met from within existing allocations. Language supports are also included through the Special Education Teaching (SET) which encompasses an element of language support allocation. Under this SET model, schools are frontloaded with resources to provide support immediately to those pupils who need it without delay.
The Department's policies enable flexible resource allocation to ensure that the resources follow pupils in the event of them changing schools. These supports to schools, based on an application process, are provided for new-entrant pupils (i.e., pupils arrived in the country in the last 2 years with an EAL requirement). Similar to previous years, supports may also be provided for schools with a high concentration of pupils that are not classified as new-entrant pupils but who have an EAL need i.e., those pupils with less than 3 years EAL support and register less than B1 in an English proficiency test.
In addition, further additional temporary EAL support is also provided through the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
Following the application process, Bunscoil Chriost Rí has been informed of an EAL allocation of 10 hours per week for the 2026/27 school year, in addition to the permanent EAL post that is in place in the school. This is less than the current EAL allocation and corresponds with a decrease in overall enrolments in the school and enrolments of pupils with EAL needs. The school is not losing five teachers in the 2026/27 school year.
Bunscoil Chríost Rí has submitted an EAL appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals board and this board will meet on Wednesday 17th June to make decision on all staffing appeals submitted. The school will be notified of the outcome accordingly.
The criteria by which schools can apply for EAL support for the 2026/27 school year has not been revised.
The Department’s Inspectorate report available on the Department website “Meeting Additional Language Needs: Whole-school and Classroom Approaches for Inclusive Language Learning” outlines the best practice approaches in the teaching and learning of EAL involving mainstream teachers. The report underscores the importance of English language provision for educational equity and wellbeing and applauds schools for promoting diversity and belonging. The Department will use its recommendations to enhance learning experiences across all schools.
488. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the loss of a teaching post in a school (details supplied); if she will provide clarification on the basis for the staffing allocation decision; and whether any flexibility exists to prevent a significant increase in class sizes for this cohort. [45570/26]
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 staffing arrangements for the 2026/27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. That circular contains information and application forms on the staffing appeals process, where schools may appeal their staffing allocation to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal submitted by the school was unsuccessful. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
489. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on emergency works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45572/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for life safety system works on 5 June 2026. The application in question is currently being reviewed by the technical area within the EWS. Once a technical recommendation has been received back from the technical team, the EWS team will engage further with the school as appropriate. The EWS team is aware of the urgent nature of the works required and will keep the school informed throughout the process.
490. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 27 May 2026, the breakdown of the 40 new on time mainstream applications received, by school planning area or town (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45573/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Bus Éireann has advised that there are currently 40 new on time mainstream applications received to the school referred to by the Deputy, for the 2026/27 school year. All pupils have been deemed to be mainstream concessionary as they are not eligible under current scheme criteria. They have not received any mainstream eligible applications to date to this school. There is no mainstream school transport service operating to this school at present. Please see the information below, as requested, broken down by townland of the pupils’ addresses.
Blanchardstown - 1 pupil
Clonee - 5 pupils
Dublin City - 1 pupil
Hollystown - 11 pupils
Mulhuddart - 4 pupils
Tyrellstown - 18 pupils
491. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of educational psychologists currently working in NEPS; and the estimated cost of providing an additional ten educational psychologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45662/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework where there is need via a NEPS psychologist. Currently, NEPS employs 235 educational psychologists (WTE).
The estimated yearly salary cost of recruiting 10 additional WTE educational psychologists is €1,029,808. This figure includes employer PRSI costs. It does not include non-pay costs associated with the employment of an educational psychologist.
492. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNAs currently employed; the estimated first and full-year cost of providing an additional 100 SNAs in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45663/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Special education funding will exceed €3 billion in 2026 – up 58% since 2020 and the highest amount ever provided.
The number of special needs assistants (SNAs) allocated to schools nationally has increased by 45% between the 2020/21 school year and the present. By the end of the 2026/27 school year there will be close to 25,000 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools.
SNAs play a key role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
It is important to note that there have been increases in SNAs in all counties and across all education settings since 2020, including mainstream, special classes and special schools.
It is important to remember that when the NCSE allocates a SNA post, the board of management as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy.
The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special needs assistant is €37,374 per annum.
The estimated full-year cost of a special need assistant is €45,020 per annum. This includes employer PRSI.
Where posts are allocated from 1 September, the cost is a pro-rata equivalent of the full 12 month annual cost.
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.
493. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special education teachers currently employed; the estimated first and full-year cost of providing an additional 100 special education teachers in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45664/26]
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.
Special education teachers provide additional teaching to students attending mainstream classes with special educational needs using a wide variety of teaching approaches.
By the end of the 2026 calendar year there will be over 21,000 special educational teachers and almost 25,000 special needs assistants (SNAs) in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have almost 46,000 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing students with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special education teacher is €59,751 per annum within a primary setting and €60,108 in a post-primary setting. Figures are inclusive of substitution costs and Employer PRSI.
The estimated full-year cost of a special education teacher is €80,360 per annum within a primary setting and €81,640 in a post-primary setting. This includes provision for related substitution costs and employer PRSI.
Where posts are allocated from 1 September, the cost is a pro-rata equivalent of the full 12 month annual cost.
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.
494. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated in budget 2026 for the minor work grant, ICT grant, solar PV grant and climate action summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45665/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, my Department has invested over €6.9 billion in schools nationwide under the National Development Plan (NDP). This investment has enabled the completion of more than 1,400 school building projects, alongside over 4,000 small-scale improvement works to address priority maintenance needs and advance energy-efficiency and climate objectives. Repurposing and optimising existing accommodation has also been central to meeting special education needs in a timely and inclusive manner, with approximately 80% of new special classes for 2025/26 being delivered through refurbished classroom spaces.
A total capital allocation of €7.55 billion has been confirmed for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026–2030 under the NDP. Within this allocation, a strong emphasis will continue to be placed on provision for children with special educational needs, particularly in meeting annual school place requirements. For both Large-Scale Projects and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, the Department will continue to prioritise maximising existing school capacity and delivering targeted additional accommodation where required to meet the most urgent needs.
As part of the NDP Implementation Plan for the education and youth sector, the first tranche of projects to proceed to tender and/or construction in 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026. Further tranches will be identified on a rolling basis, with stakeholder consultation commencing in June 2026. The Implementation Plan will ensure that NDP funding is used to maximise outputs, prioritise areas with insufficient capacity, and deliver projects that are affordable, represent value for money, and meet functional requires.
To date, €340 million has been allocated to schools through the Minor Works Grant and Enhanced Minor Works Grant. This includes €30 million in Minor Works Grants issued in December 2025 for the 2026/2027 school year.
Under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, €200 million has been committed for school ICT through the NDP, with approximately €170 million already allocated. The most recent ICT Grant payment—totalling €35 million—issued to schools in January 2026. The payment timelines for both the Minor Works Grant and the ICT Grant have now been standardised, with schools receiving these grants during the December/January period each year. This schedule will be incorporated into the Department’s annual grants payment calendar to provide greater clarity and certainty for schools.
Over €200 million has been provided to schools under the Summer Works Scheme to support essential improvement and maintenance works, including upgrades to roofs, windows, and mechanical and electrical systems. The first tranche of 297 projects under the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme—along with the completion of remaining projects under the previous scheme—was published in November 2025 for delivery primarily in summer 2026 involving an investment of €90m. A key priority within this tranche is the refurbishment of over 60 science laboratories to support the rollout of the redeveloped Senior Cycle Science Curriculum.
A second tranche of Climate Action Summer Works Scheme projects will be published in October 2026.
In addition, more than 100 ongoing climate-related projects continue to be delivered through a combination of EU-funded programmes and partnerships with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
495. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the first year and full-year estimated cost to cut school transport fees by 50%; the first year and full year estimated cost to abolition school transport fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45661/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The scheme is demand led based on the number of children who apply and has expanded significantly over the past six years. In that time, the numbers of children and young people using the service have grown from under 120,000 pupils in 2018 to over 181,000 pupils including over 24,000 pupils with Special Educational Needs in 2025 which equates to an increase of over 50%. Since 2018, investment in the scheme has more than doubled, from €200 million to €537 million.
In 2024, receipts from school transport charges amounted to approximately €24m. If school transport fees were to be abolished and eligibility criteria remained the same, the cost of providing free transport to each child availing of school transport would be approximately an additional cost of €24m on the total cost of transport for the year. However, the introduction of Free Transport would mostly increase the demand for school transport , which would also increase the cost of the scheme. The figure of €24m is based on current patterns of school transport uptake and assumes that all other costs and factors remaining the same.
The scheme is heavily subsidised, with over 92% of the overall cost covered. The approximate cost to the State per mainstream pupil is currently €1,400 annually.
A recent review of the School Transport Scheme found that having a fee helps make better use of resources and prevents seats on school buses from going unused, helping to protect and sustain the scheme for all families who need it.
For the 2026/27 school year, a primary school ticket will cost the equivalent of 55 cent per school day, and a post-primary ticket will cost approximately 60 cent per school day. No family will pay more than €1.32 per day, regardless of how many children use the service.
496. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost to abolish Junior and Leaving Certificate exam fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45666/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntry fees were applied for the 2026 State exams at the rate of €116 for Leaving Certificate candidates and €109 for Junior Cycle candidates, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. These rates are unchanged since 2012. Protections are in place so that any student with a full medical card, or covered under a parent or guardian’s card, continues 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. The State Examinations Commission’s payment portal opened on 19 March, with fees due to be paid by 22 May.
The cost of abolishing examination fees is dependent on factors such as the overall number of candidates and rate of medical card eligibility. However, as a guide it can be noted that €12m was allocated to the SEC in Budget 2025 to meet the cost of the entry fee waiver in that year. This is only a small part of the overall cost associated with running the State examinations, the majority of which is funded by the State. Each year the SEC delivers a high-quality examination service to candidates. In 2026, a record number of candidates are sitting state examinations, with some 146,553 sitting both Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate programmes. Funding collected through examination fees contributes to the overall cost of delivering those examinations.
497. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated saving yearly for the abolition of the private school subsidy over five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45667/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent annualised gross expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of fee-charging schools was €151.3 million. This comprises €150.7 million in teacher and Special Needs Assistant salary costs for the 2024/25 school year and €0.6 million in capital supports (including building-related and ICT grants) in 2025.
A breakdown of expenditure over the past five years is set out below:
|
School Year / Calendar Year |
2020/21 & 2021 |
2021/22 & 2022 |
2022/23 & 2023 |
2023/24 & 2024 |
2024/25 & 2025 |
|
Gross Teacher & SNA Salary Costs (School Year) |
€120.6m |
€120.8m |
€131.3m |
€142.9m |
€150.7m |
|
Grant Funding (Building, ICT & COVID related) (Calendar Year) |
€4.5m |
€4.4m |
€1.2m |
€1.8m |
€0.6m |
Therefore, on a purely gross basis, the abolition of this funding could imply an annual savings of over €150 million. If this policy change was introduced on a flat rate basis over a five year period, it would result in gross notional savings of approximately €30 million in year one, €60 million in year two, €90 million in year three, €120 million in year four and finally increasing to €150 million in year five.
However, it is not possible to estimate the net savings to the Exchequer with any precision. Because if State funding for fee-charging schools were withdrawn, a proportion of pupils currently attending those schools would be expected to transfer to schools participating in the Free Education Scheme. The State would then be required to fund their education in those schools, including teacher allocations, special education supports and potentially additional capital investment.
It should also be noted that the staffing schedule applicable to fee-charging schools is less favourable than that applied in the free education sector. The current allocation ratio in fee-charging schools is 23:1, compared with 19:1 in schools participating in the Free Education Scheme, meaning that the per-pupil cost to the State in fee-charging schools is lower.
Accordingly, while the gross expenditure provides an indication of the scale of funding involved, the actual savings arising from any abolition of funding for fee-charging schools would depend on behavioural responses by parents and schools, and could be significantly offset by additional costs arising in the free education system.
498. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of increasing the Summer Programme provision by 10%, 20% and 50%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45668/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the 2026 Summer Programme were communicated to all schools on the 6th May 2026. As in 2025, the programme will be underpinned by funding of €62 million to ensure its continuation. Between 2021 and 2024, funding of €40 million was allocated annually to the Summer Programme. The level of funding being provided represents a 55% increase on previous allocations, and this funding will be fully utilised to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children.
All schools have been offered the opportunity to run a school-based programme for children with the most complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
Where a school does not intend to run a school-based programme or there is no place on the programme for an eligible child, schools were invited to make an application for the home-based programme.
The estimated costs of increasing the budget as suggested by the Deputy would be:
|
Percentage increase |
Total Cost |
|
10% |
€68.2m |
|
20% |
€74.4m |
|
50% |
€93m |
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]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding 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.
500. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the cost of increasing the school ICT grant for post primary schools by 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45670/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan, with funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).
Including the €35m that issued in January 2026, a total of €170 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year it is anticipated that providing €35m this year, will enable the balance of €30 million to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027. Clarity and certainty is being provided for school system on annual grant payment timeline which is now set at December/January payment period for each year.
This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment and builds on the €210m in grants that issued under the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020.
The costings provided are based on the most recent ICT grant payment of €35m that issued during the 2025/2026 school year, however it should be noted that the actual ICT grant amount varies depending on the total allocation provided in the National Development Plan for the Digital Strategy.
ICT Grant 2025/26 - Post Primary
|
Post primary Amount - 2025/26 |
10% increase |
20% increase |
50% Increase |
|
14.156.165 |
15,571,781 |
16,987,398 |
21,234,248 |
501. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated full-year cost of restoring the school libraries fund by €10; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45671/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that, based on the Department’s preliminary enrolment data figures for 2025-26, there are 545,726 learners in recognised primary and special schools and 429,657 students in post-primary schools. Based on these preliminary figures, the cost of restoring the school libraries fund by €10 per student in the academic year 2025-2026 would be as follows:
Number of pupils: 975,383
Cost in 2025-2026: €9,753,830
Furthermore, the estimated additional costing in relation to the provision of libraries in schools would be substantial. For example, the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. This would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, library assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.
As the Deputy would be aware, once off funding of €20 million was made available in May 2022 to enable all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme to improve their existing literacy resource banks.
Webinars and the Public Library Resource Guide for Schools provides information for primary and post-primary schools to develop and expand reading and literacy collections within the school setting. The Public Library Supports for Schools are jointly agreed by the Department of Education and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
A teacher’s card is made available to every teacher in every school, which enables each teacher to borrow items for his/her class. As no doubt the Deputy is aware, library membership is completely free of charge for everyone in every library in the country.
Further information on the services to schools can be found at Services to Schools | Libraries Ireland. Libraries Ireland also offer a Digital Library Service, and anyone with a library card can access the eBooks, Audio books and eLearning Resources.
The Library Service published ‘The Library is the Place: National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027’in July 2023. Under this strategy and the Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy, the Department will further enhance the partnership with the Library Service to increase school usages of the resources that are available through the public libraries.
Since 2023 my department has issued a grant to provide free schoolbooks for all children and young people enrolled in all recognised primary schools, including special schools. In 2024 this grant was extended to provide free schoolbooks for all Junior Cycle students, and since September 2025 to include all Senior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Where any surplus funding remains after all other schoolbooks and related classroom resources costs have been met, a school has the discretion to purchase library books, audio books and other material to increase the literacy (in English, Irish or other languages) and numeracy resources for their school.
'Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood' and five-year implementation plan was published in May 2024 by the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. This strategy aims to promote the development of essential literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills. Work is continuing in relation to action 1.3.5 of the Strategy, ‘Explore the potential for an expanded programme of library support services to ELC settings, primary and post primary schools.
I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
503. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the teacher allocation will be reviewed for a school given the allocation for next year will result in higher teacher to pupil ratio and split classes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45686/26]
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 enrolment of the school referred to by the Deputy fell from 381 pupils to 354 pupils, which is 19 pupils below the threshold required to retain the 16th class teacher. As a result, the school's mainstream staffing is to reduce to 15 in September.
The staffing arrangements for the 2026/27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. That circular contains information and application forms on the staffing appeals process, where schools may appeal their staffing allocation to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal submitted by the school was unsuccessful. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.).
504. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether discretion can be applied in the reduction to 2026-2027 teacher allocations in a school (details supplied) who will be required to host multi-grade classes for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45709/26]
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 enrolment of the school referred to by the Deputy fell from 381 pupils to 354 pupils, which is 19 pupils below the threshold required to retain the 16th class teacher. As a result, the school's mainstream staffing is to reduce to 15 in September.
The staffing arrangements for the 2026/27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. That circular contains information and application forms on the staffing appeals process, where schools may appeal their staffing allocation to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal submitted by the school was unsuccessful. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
