Written answers
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Education Policy
Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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332. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider reducing primary school class sizes as outlined in the pre-Budget 2026 submission by an organisation (details supplied), specifically the proposal for a two-point reduction, to ensure more individual attention for students, particularly those with diverse educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50399/25]
Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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336. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the Government’s strategy for addressing the underinvestment in primary and special education, particularly in relation to overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and the increasing demands placed on teaching staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50403/25]
Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken to reduce the workload of teachers in primary and special education settings, particularly in schools with large class sizes or those located in rural areas, given concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50404/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332, 336 and 337 together.
The Government is investing a record €11.8 billion into education and schools through Budget 2025.
This record level of investment has allowed the Government to invest in tackling educational disadvantage and supporting those with special educational needs to achieve their full potential. It has enabled huge investment in the school buildings programme, in curriculum reform, in school leadership and in continuous professional development for teachers.
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to aim to reduce the general pupil teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of government and introduce targeted measures in schools with very large classes.
This will build on the progress which has been made by the previous Government. The general average of pupils to teachers in the Primary Staffing Schedule improved from 26 : 1 five years ago to 23 : 1 for the current school year, the lowest ever ratio at primary level. More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools. Average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.1 to 22.2 through the investment we are making in schools.
I am considering how best to make further progress as part of the annual budgetary process in reducing the primary pupil teacher ratio in the context of Programme for Government implementation.
The Programme for Government provides for a number of measures to support small schools, including introducing a new national small schools' project and trialling new administrative supports. The Government is very aware that small schools are an important part of the life of local communities.
The current small schools' action research project established in 2021 is due to conclude at the end of the next school year. The project has brought small schools together in local clusters, enabling them to collaborate, identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions.
Learnings from the evaluation of the current project will be invaluable and form a strong basis to inform the future policy direction in relation to all small schools, including how the Programme for Government commitment can be delivered.
I recognise the key role school leadership in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.
Recent improvements in relation to school management and leadership structures include:
- all primary schools with a teaching principal have a minimum of 37 Principal Release Days, that is, one administrative day per week. Schools with one special class have 4 additional release days, a total of 41 in the school year
- schools with two special classes have administrative principal status regardless of enrolment
- the Administrative Principal pupil threshold has been reduced from an enrolment of 178 to 169, with the Deputy Admin Principal threshold reduced from an enrolment of 655 to 573.
- the second teacher in two-teacher schools have Deputy Principal status as opposed to holding Assistant Principal II posts
- the Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts of responsibility (POR) in primary and special schools by 1,450 posts. The last two budgets have provided for an additional 1000 posts of responsibility at primary level. 500 AP II posts were allocated to primary schools in the 2024/25 school year. For the 2025/26 school year, the equivalent of 500 AP II posts is being distributed as 110 AP I and 251 AP II for the purposes of fully restoring all POR's in primary schools.
- A review of leadership supports, as committed to in the Programme for Government, is currently in development. This will examine current resourcing, distributed leadership, administrative and advisory supports, and professional learning supports for school leaders. Extensive consultation with stakeholders will inform this work.
- The Programme for Government also commits to a trial of new administrative support for principals and boards of management to assist with the demands faced and support school leaders in rebalancing some of their time to leading teaching and learning. Planning for this trial is now at an advanced stage.
A number of special education specific initiatives have been introduced to support schools with not only leadership and management functions but to support learning and parental and community engagement. In 2024, new posts were created for administrative deputy principals to ensure these appointments were available in all 129 special schools, and this year additional resources are being provided to every post-primary school to assist them in the effective planning and support of students transitioning into post-primary settings. Furthermore the Programme for Government commits to the recruitment of additional special education teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to provide greater support to students and schools. This will build on the existing 44,000 special education teacher and SNA posts already provided within our education system. My department will continue to engage through the estimates process in this regard.
The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs.
The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including an over €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs through Budget 2025. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This has resulted in the standard rates increasing from €200 to €224 for primary schools and from €345 to €386 per student in post-primary schools with effect from September 2025. Over the last two Budgets there has been a circa 22% increase in the level of capitation grant rates paid to schools. Enhanced rates are also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of capitation grant is €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools and €55 per student in post-primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
The Department of Education and Youth is aware that costs and funding can pose a problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.
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