Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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465. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the 2025 carryover figure found in the Education and Youth Table D (Reconciliation of 2026 Expenditure Ceiling) in the Budget 2026 Expenditure report. [55126/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The €95 million carryover referenced in the Budget 2026 Expenditure Report, under the section Reconciliation of 2026 Expenditure Ceiling, relates to measures introduced in Budget 2025 that commence in 2025 and extend into the following year. Specifically, certain measures in Budget 2025 are aligned with the school calendar year, meaning Budget 2025 funding is allocated for the school year 2025/26, which started in 2025 (August/September to December), with the remaining full-year costs falling into 2026 (January to July/August).

This carryover amount primarily reflects measures announced in Budget 2025 such as the increase in school capitation rates, with the primary rate rising to €224 and the post-primary rate to €386, as well as the recruitment of 768 additional special education teachers and 1,600 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). These measures received initial funding in 2025, with the remaining full year allocation carried over into 2026.