2024/25 School Year: Peak Enrolment of 977,000, Up 38K Since 2020

The Department of Education is expected to inform an Oireachtas committee that student enrollments reached a peak in recent decades during the last school year. Bernie McNally, the department's secretary general, is scheduled to present this information to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee.

McNally's presentation will reportedly highlight that more than 977,000 students were enrolled in schools across the State during the 2024/2025 school year. This figure represents an increase of 38,000 students compared to 2020, and 200,000 more than in 2003. She will emphasize that this demographic growth, coupled with the increasing prevalence of special educational needs, has generated significant demand for capital development.

Her opening statement indicates that the review of the National Development Plan in July 2025 confirmed the department's capital allocations for the period 2026 to 2030. With an average annual allocation of €1.5 billion, totaling €7.55 billion, the department's capital funding is now on a more stable and sustainable footing. McNally is expected to state that this new five-year allocation will enable the Department of Education to improve its planning and prioritization of project delivery, reducing reliance on supplementary funding.

McNally is also expected to inform the committee that building work is planned for approximately a quarter of the 4,000 schools across the State this year. This includes projects already under construction, large-scale project roll-outs, other extension projects, repurposing works for special classes, the climate action summer works scheme, and the climate program. She will stress that a key focus of the department's plan is to maximize existing capacity in schools and prioritize projects addressing the most urgent needs, particularly in supporting special education provision.