8th October 2025
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) joined an online briefing on the Department of Education and Youth’s budget for 2026 this afternoon.
At today’s briefing, some details were made available but much more will have to be clarified by the Department of Education and Youth in the coming days and weeks.
Primary and special school capitation uplifts
The primary and special school capitation grant will be increased by €50 per pupil, with capitation for post-primary only set to increase by €20. However, while many schools are experiencing significant financial hardship this autumn, the increase will not benefit schools until January. Schools received a €24 increase in capitation this year already, but due to the withdrawal of once-off cost of living supports many will continue to struggle to make ends meet between now and the receipt of the increased capitation in January 2026.
In addition, DEIS Band One schools will receive an additional €20 increase per pupil, in addition to the across-the-board increase of €50, equating to a €70 increase for these schools. An additional €162 is being provided per student aged 12 and over attending special schools.
Notwithstanding the timing of the increases, the INTO’s pre-budget campaign has secured the largest ever increase in primary capitation, which brings the daily rate of capitation to €1.50 per pupil, a 50% increase since 2020. The INTO wishes to thank all members who campaigned so hard for this vital increase to direct school funding.
Reacting to this announcement, INTO General Secretary John Boyle said:
While we acknowledge this significant increase, it still falls far short of what is needed. That speaks volumes about the Department’s lack of understanding of the real pressures primary schools face. It is not the job of teachers, principals or parents to paper over government’s failure to properly fund education.
‘New’ Teaching Posts
1042 ‘new’ teaching posts have been allocated to the education system. 860 are to be set aside for special education, with the department failing today to provide a sectoral breakdown. The majority of the balance of these posts will be allocated to cater for increased enrolments at second level. When questioned about the INTO’s call for SENCOs to be provided to inclusive schools, the Ministers responded that additional measures like this would be kept under consideration for future budgets.
Speaking following today’s briefing, INTO General Secretary John Boyle said:
Today’s briefing confirms that many of the so-called ‘new’ special education posts are simply being pulled from mainstream classes – the direct result of government’s broken promises on class size. After three years of refusing to adjust the staffing schedule, despite falling enrolments, schools now face a hammer blow next September that will hit children and communities hard. The failure to heed our call for SENCO posts, even when questioned by RTÉ today, shows a lack of ambition to truly support the delivery of special education in our schools.
DEIS+ Scheme
The department confirmed today that €48 million has been allocated for a new DEIS+ scheme, starting in September 2026. The scheme will support pupils most at risk of educational disadvantage, in both DEIS and non-DEIS schools, under a new DEIS plan.
However, details of the DEIS plus scheme and DEIS plan will not be announced until later this year. The INTO has campaigned vigorously for this scheme for the last four years and welcomes its announcement, but further detail must urgently be provided to schools. Given the delay in announcing the details of this scheme, we are today calling on the department to engage with the INTO on what is needed for this scheme to deliver for this vulnerable cohort of our school population.
Revised curricula
The department confirmed today that €19 million 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, the redeveloped primary curriculum, the ‘Guidelines on Behaviours of Concern and Dealing with Crisis Situations’, along with a range of other planned enhancements in the teaching and learning experience in our schools.
In-school therapy
The department confirmed today that €16 million has been allocated to continue the roll out of school-based speech and language and occupational therapy within special schools, with a view to extending it to special classes and into mainstream schools. While this union has long called for such therapeutic supports to be provided in schools, staffing concerns remain. The government must demonstrate it will not only deliver this service but can adequately staff it as well.
Schools’ Capital Programme
The department confirmed today that €1.6 billion from the National Development Plan in 2026 will support progressing the delivery of over 300 school building projects currently at construction, with the majority expected to be completed in 2026 and 2027. It is also envisaged that approximately 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of two-year rolling programme. The Ministers confirmed that the Minor Works, ICT grants will be paid and that the photovoltaic scheme, schools’ retrofitting scheme and the summer works scheme will continue. The INTO reiterates our call that these grants are paid in a timely manner, given the acute funding challenges facing schools.
Additional deputy principals posts
The department confirmed today that €3 million has been allocated towards increased school leadership supports, increasing the numbers of deputy principals in primary and post-primary schools. No sectoral breakdown was provided today, and the union will be engaging with the department for more information on this announcement.
Other measures
SNAs
The Ministers today did not break down the allocation of 1,717 extra SNAs but confirmed that the majority would go towards supporting 3,000 more students with additional needs in new special classes and in special schools.
Ministers today confirmed that €69 million will be made available to support the School Transport scheme.
The also confirmed that €2 million in funding is to be provided for the Convention on Education.
Speaking following the briefing, INTO General Secretary John Boyle said:
Budget 2026 leaves middle-income workers worse off. Government has chosen not to index tax bands and allowances – a deliberate decision that hits workers in the pocket, despite record tax revenues. The withdrawal of cost-of-living supports and a meagre 2% pay rise for public servants in the first half of next year means INTO members will remain under severe pressure. Instead of protecting workers, government shamefully handed VAT cuts to developers and the hospitality sector, giveaways that do nothing for teachers or families.
The INTO is determined to secure real pay rises in the next public sector pay deal. Yesterday’s budget makes clear that this government bends to the loudest voices in the business lobby. Public servants will have no choice but to flex their industrial muscles to be heard. A challenge we will rise to if necessary.
While government finally heeded our calls for increased capitation funding, though still inadequately funding our primary schools, this gain is significantly undermined by the refusal to amend the staffing schedule. Many schools will be left facing closures and children will be forced into multi-grade classes, as empty classrooms sit idle. This short-sighted decision threatens the rollout of the new curriculum and exposes a government unwilling to honour its own commitments in the programme for government.