Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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886. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if within her internal budgetary process she has identified a need to increase funding for the capitation grant in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46000/25]

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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887. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if within her internal budgetary process she has identified a need to increase funding for the capitation grant in post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46001/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 886 and 887 together.

My Department is currently progressing its internal budgetary process as part of the ongoing preparations for Budget 2026.

As part of this process, we are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including contributions from education partners and organisations involved in broader areas of public policy. As in previous years, these submissions are being carefully considered and will help shape the specific priorities I will be advocating for in Budget 2026.

In recent years, the Government has made significant strides in strengthening the education system. This includes increased capitation funding for schools with a further €30 million provided to facilitate a 12% increase in school standard capitation rates from €200 to €224 per pupil at primary level, and from €345 to €386 per pupil at post-primary level. This builds on previous enhancements and brings the total increase in capitation rates to 22% over the last two successive Budgets. In addition, the recent Budgets have also provided for the allocation of thousands of additional teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, enhanced supports for school leadership, smaller class sizes, targeted measures to address teacher supply, and the provision of free schoolbooks at both primary and post-primary levels to ease financial pressure on families.

Looking ahead to Budget 2026, my priority remains to continue delivering on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government and to support students, staff, and families across the education sector.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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888. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a timeline and budget allocation for the implementation of the DEIS+ programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46003/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Tackling educational disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a top priority for the Minister for Education and Youth.

Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. The programme focuses resources on schools with the highest concentrations of students at risk of educational disadvantage.

The Minister is committed to narrowing the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introducing innovative solutions to address disadvantage. A new DEIS Plan will be published in 2025, which will include a DEIS Plus scheme. This new scheme will provide additional support to schools with the highest levels of need, in line with the Government’s commitment.

To inform the development of the DEIS Plus scheme, a Design Advisory Group has been established. It includes school principals, Home School Community Liaison officers, and School Completion Programme coordinators, professionals who work directly with children experiencing high inter-generational disadvantage. Their insights will help shape a proposal for a DEIS Plus scheme that will support schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Details of the DEIS Plus scheme are currently being developed in collaboration with the advisory group and will be announced later this year.