Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, when looking at that increase, we are talking about 1.9% at primary level, and when compared to 2017, when it was at 3.3%, it is a significant decrease at primary level. Compared with the figures from 2017 at post-primary level, they are almost static at 10.5% currently and 9.4% in 2017. We are seeing changes in the education system too, which we need to acknowledge. We are seeing an increase in the number of students coming from abroad and 25% of our student population are presenting with special educational needs.

As a result of that knowledge, we are obviously going to see an increase. Looking at what is available at primary and post-primary levels, we can see that the demographics are moving towards post-primary with an increase in the number of students there, as opposed to what we have at primary level.