The Government’s priorities for education

In the Programme for Government (PfG), the Government sets out a vision for education which emphasises system reform, inclusion, capital investment, and workforce expansion, with a particular focus on special education and tackling educational disadvantage.

A central strand of policy is the modernisation of the student learning experience. Senior cycle reform continues, involving updated curricula, alternative assessment methods, and work to reduce examination-related stress.

Literacy and numeracy remain priority areas. The Government plans to increase ICT investment in schools, integrate digital skills and coding into teaching, and support online safety education. Policies also aim to expand foreign language uptake, progress the SPHE/RSE curriculum, and provide enhanced access to music education, creative programmes, Gaelscoileanna, and Gaelcholáistí.

A significant focus is placed on school supports and staffing. Commitments include increasing capitation funding, lowering the primary pupil-teacher ratio to 19:1 over the Government’s term, and trialling administrative supports for school leaders to reduce non-teaching workload. Additional measures include a national project for small schools, expanded childcare and after school provision on school sites, and workforce planning to ensure adequate teacher supply. Digital learning and professional development supports will continue to be updated, particularly in the context of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The Government also intends to increase capital investment in school infrastructure. Plans include supporting over 300 school building projects currently under construction and progressing approximately 80 additional projects across 2026 and 2027. Capital investment is to prioritise demographic growth areas, special education capacity, refurbishment, ICT and climate-action upgrades, and sports facilities. The PfG states that annualisation of the Minor Works Scheme and continuation of the Summer Works Scheme form part of this approach.

A substantial portion of policy relates to educational inclusion and disadvantage. A new DEIS Plus scheme, due to begin in September 2026, will target schools with the highest levels of need, aimed at narrowing performance gaps and introducing new interventions.

Additional proposals include strengthening school attendance strategies, expanding the Home School Community Liaison Scheme, extending the JCSP Library Project, and improving guidance services. The free hot school meals and free schoolbooks programmes will continue and expand. Broader participation measures include actions relating to the Transition Year programme, uniform swap initiatives, and additional supports for Traveller and Roma students.

The special education area remains one of the largest policy and funding priorities. Budget 2026 allocates funding for 1,717 additional special needs assistants and 860 additional special education teachers, bringing total dedicated staff to more than 46,500 in 2026.

Commitments include further increasing special class and special school places, providing modular accommodation in advance of each school year, and promoting collaboration between mainstream and special schools.

A national therapy service is to be developed to provide in-school access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and other professional supports, with an associated expansion in relevant higher education places. Additional measures include admissions reform, more structured transition planning for students with additional needs, enhanced teacher training, expansion of summer programmes, and updates to legislation such as the EPSEN Act.

On student wellbeing and safety, policies include extending mental health pilots, implementing anti-bullying initiatives such as the FUSE programme, and developing a holistic wellness programme centred on physical activity, nutrition, and social behaviour. The Government also outlines its ambitions to make schools smartphone-free and to strengthen digital literacy and online safety education.

Further and higher education

In further and higher education, the Government’s priorities are focussed on closing the core funding gap by using the National Training Fund and providing a clearer financial framework for technological universities, including borrowing capacity for capital projects. Actions to widen access include increasing further education places, reducing student contribution fees, increasing SUSI maintenance, exploring placement grants, expanding free part-time courses, and improving financial support for postgraduate students.

Work is also underway to simplify entry routes, including the introduction of a single application process for apprenticeships, further education and higher education, and reforms to the CAO system.

Research and innovation policy includes commitments to increase research funding across disciplines, encourage greater collaboration between higher education institutions and industry, expand PhD and postdoctoral supports, and enhance participation in EU programmes.

The Government also proposes expanding micro credential provision, increasing STEM uptake, strengthening north-south academic collaboration, and supporting the development of technological universities, including new academic career structures.

Student accommodation forms a separate policy area, with the PfG outlining plans for a multi-annual programme to deliver new purpose-built student accommodation, enabling TUs to borrow for on-campus construction, and aligning leases with the academic year. Measures to increase uptake of the Rent-a-Room scheme are also being examined.