Budget 2027 allocates €14.4bn to education, raises primary capitation

Budget 2027 earmarks €14.4 billion for education, with a €68 per‑pupil increase in primary capitation to €342, a rise of 25 %.

The budget also adds 100 home‑school community liaison coordinators and boosts Deis Plus funding. Special education receives an extra €56 million, promising 2,339 additional special needs assistants (SNAs) and 1,353 new teachers for 2027.

School transport funding is lifted by €33 million. In the disability sector, the budget provides 489 additional residential care packages, 1,500 new day‑service places, 191,000 extra respite, home‑support and personal‑assistance hours, and 930 additional disability‑service staff.

While the increased funding is welcomed, the budget makes no change to class‑size policy, a point highlighted as a missed opportunity for inclusion and teacher workload relief.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Artem Podrez / Pexels.