€55m overrun down to extra spending on substitute teachers

More money than expected was also spent on school transport

The cost of hiring substitute teachers to replace those on Covid leave has been cited as a factor in the higher-than-anticipated spending. File picture

Extra spending on substitute teachers has led to a €55m overrun by the Department of Education in the first three months of this year.

Minister Norma Foley has told her Cabinet colleagues that gross overall expenditure had reached €2.4bn by the end of March, which is €55m ahead of profile.