Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

763.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the programmes to which the discretionary new spend at budget time has been allocated in each of the past five years; the impact that they have had; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32413/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Over recent years, additional resources have been made available to our schools, including through the delivery of thousands of extra teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, increased capitation in schools and investment in school transport services, enhanced supports for school leadership and management, additional supports for special schools, reduced class sizes in primary schools, significant expansion of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) scheme, enhanced capacity to meet the increased number of pupils enrolled in our schools and special educational needs pupils in special classes and special schools, measures to increase the supply of teachers available and free school books for primary school and junior cycle students. Significant additional resources and supports were also provided in response to the Ukraine, Cost of Living and Covid-19 crises. My aim for Budget 2025 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff and families in the education sector.

The extra funding provided in recent years for these additional resources has been secured as part of the annual Estimates process. This process includes ongoing engagements and agreements reached with the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform. Therefore, the additional Budget funding for new measures is allocated for specific areas as part of the Budget settlements agreed with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform with no provision being set aside for other discretionary new spend areas.