Over the years our country has benefitted from a wide range of action to increase inclusion and opportunity in education.
We succeeded in achieving one of the highest school completion rates in Europe and reducing education disadvantage through a sustained commitment and we will build on this.
At this critical moment in shaping our economic future we are taking action to further invest in education and training.
Key Measures
Budget 2027 provides significant investment across the education system, including over 1,600 additional teaching posts.
Budget 2027 provides for almost €53 million for permanent increases to capitation funding for schools, with the level of mainstream capitation rates increasing by almost 87% paid to Primary schools and 41% paid to Post Primary schools.
School Transport budget will increase to €687 million in 2027 that brings over 180,000 students to and from school. This extra funding will provide for the additional demand for children and young people with specialised transport needs and increased transport running costs.
Some €21 million of additional funding is being provided for the continuation of important curricular development and related teacher education. This includes support for the ongoing delivery of Senior Cycle Redevelopment, and enactment of the redeveloped Primary Curriculum along with a range of other planned enhancements in the teaching and learning experience in our schools. It also includes additional funding to support Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht and Irish in English-medium schools and supporting students' access to a new Gaeltacht Language Champions programme.
An additional €7 million will support the sustainability and development of youth services, providing tailored supports and spaces for our young people.
Expansion of DEIS Plus and targeted Home School Community Liaison Supports.
A capital allocation of over €1.6 billion for 2027 will continue progression to construction of first tranche of 105 NDP priority projects. Further tranche of projects to tender to be announced in 2027. In total, approximately 1,000 projects of varying scales expected to be on site across the school estate during 2027.
