Has the budget done enough to address persistent underfunding in Irish education?

Budget 2027 includes a €68 increase for primary school students, which brings the rate to €342 per pupil at primary level. File picture: Chani Anderson 

Its budget for 2027 will be one of its most scrutinised, but the coming days will tell if enough has been done to address persistent underfunding in the Department of Education.

The full details of the department’s €14.4bn budget for 2027 will be outlined on Wednesday.

Announcing the headline figures on Tuesday, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said it was vital “every student is supported to meet their full potential” and our education system is "inclusive of all students". 

His department spent most of 2025 and 2026 in dispute with the Department of Education over what it deemed its "overspending".

In recent years, education sought €3.4bn in supplementary funding outside of its annual budget allocations.

According to its officials, who briefed an Oireachtas committee earlier this summer, the majority of this was needed to cover a number of post-budget decisions taken at Government level.

In April, education minister Hildegarde Naughton said structural deficits meant her department faced years of underfunding as she committed to addressing the shortfall as a priority.

The €646m her department requested in additional funding at the time now appears to be part of its annual allocation. 

For 2027, it is set to receive an additional €300m, or a 2.2% increase overall, when compared to its 2026 budget.

Where will the money be spent?

What do we know is covered so far? It includes a €17m increase in the capitation grants paid to schools to help them with their running costs.

The primary school management bodies joined forces in September, presenting Ms Naughton with startling financial analysis that found more than 70% of primary schools ran a deficit last year.

Such deficits in funding force schools to seek so-called voluntary contributions from families in order to keep the lights on. 

Primary schools, no less than any other sector of society, continue to face significant increases in their daily running costs, including energy bills, insurance, cleaning, maintenance, ICT, teaching and learning materials and other essential services.

Management bodies had sought a €50 increase in the rate paid, and includes a €68 increase for primary school students. This brings the rate to €342 per pupil at primary level. 

Post-primary schools will also receive an increase of €40, bringing the rate to €446 per pupil. The announcement on Tuesday did not include further details on other key grants paid to schools in 2027. 

On Tuesday, Jack Chambers also announced the additional funding for 2027 would include a €56m "increase" for special education. This will include 2,339 additional special needs assistant (SNA) posts, bringing the total to 28,000 working across the system, and 1,353 additional special education teachers, bringing the total to 24,000 across the system. 

School transport will also receive an additional €33m.

He also announced €1.6bn in capital funding to support "continued progress" on projects across the school estate, including additional accommodation and modernisation for special education. 

A further €2m will be allocated to the new Deis-plus scheme to support the most disadvantaged schools, and a further €3m will be allocated to creating 100 new home-school liaison officers. 

• Jess Casey is Education Correspondent