7th October 2025
INTO initial reaction to Budget 2026
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has issued the following statement in response to today’s Budget 2026 speeches.
Capitation increase a big win for INTO members
The INTO’s pre-budget campaign mobilised over 35,000 emails to TDs and Senators and secured meetings with more than 130 Oireachtas members. Today’s announcements show government has heard our calls for a much-needed increase in the main source of funding for primary and special education, announcing an increase of €50 in the primary and special school capitation rates, from €224 to €274. Although the rise falls short of the €75 per pupil demanded by the INTO, it should help our primary and special schools to balance the books next year.
This union will continue to campaign for school funding until our schools are properly funded. We remain committed to securing a capitation rate of €400 per pupil by 2030.
Government reneges on class size commitment
The government has broken its promise to tackle overcrowded classrooms, a key pledge in its programme. Teachers across Ireland will see this as a major letdown, knowing how smaller classes benefit every child. Across the Eurozone, the average class size is 19, showing what’s possible. This is a missed opportunity to strengthen every child’s learning, from those with additional needs to those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who would all benefit from the closer attention that is standard across Europe. The government has also failed to advance the small schools’ project which they promised to roll out to 1,300 schools. This is a big disappointment.
Detail will be key in new DEIS+ Scheme
We note the plan to establish a DEIS+ scheme, which was first mooted by the INTO three years ago. The concept is welcome, but the value will only be clear if it delivers additional supports directly to schools serving Ireland’s least resourced communities. We will study the detail of the plan when it is released and consider if this will provide meaningful support to our most disadvantaged pupils.
Staffing challenges remain
Staffing remains a key source of concern for primary and special education. The announcement today of 1,042 additional teachers and 1,717 additional SNAs is recognition of the pressure schools continue to face while endeavouring to provide inclusive education practices.
The provision of special education coordinators to inclusive schools would have been a game-changer. Unfortunately, this government has ignored our members’ calls for the establishment of SENCO posts in our schools.
Educational Therapy Service
The INTO has consistently called for an expanded Educational Therapy Service and for proper funding and training to deliver the redeveloped primary curriculum. We will examine tomorrow’s education budget briefing closely before assessing whether today’s announcements meet those commitments.
The Department of Education and Youth will hold a detailed briefing tomorrow afternoon, providing additional information on the funding set out for primary and special education in Budget 2026. The INTO will provide a more comprehensive update to members following this briefing.