Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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340. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has consulted with education stakeholders, including teachers' unions, school principals, and rural school representatives, on the way to effectively allocate resources and investment in Budget 2026, particularly given concerns in relation overcrowded classrooms and insufficient funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50407/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a range of different stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2026.

In recent years, the Government has made significant strides in strengthening the education system. This includes increased capitation funding for schools, 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. As I am sure the Deputy appreciates, it would not be appropriate for me to outline any more specific plans at this stage of the budgetary process.