Ireland spends US$13,113 per student on education, trailing the average of US$13,601 recorded across member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to data released on Tuesday in the OECD Education at a Glance report. The figures emerge as Irish government ministers negotiate departmental allocations ahead of the annual budget announcement.
OECD Education Spending Figures Contrast Primary and Secondary Levels
The international data reveals differing funding allocations across educational stages within the Republic. In primary education, Irish expenditure reached US$12,943 per student in 2023, slightly above the OECD average of US$12,893. However, secondary education expenditure stood at US$12,699 in Ireland, falling behind the wider OECD average of US$14,291.
The funding figures arrive alongside ongoing fiscal pressures within the Department of Education. The department faced intense scrutiny this year following a €600 million budget overrun, which officials argued was necessary to cover teacher salaries and day-to-day operational costs. In June, the department indicated that this additional funding would be secured on an annual basis through a resetting of the financial base.
Teacher Staffing Levels and Qualifications Across Ireland
The OECD report places particular emphasis on global teacher shortages, noting that such deficits typically manifest as a higher proportion of uncertified personnel or vacant positions. Ireland records one of the lowest proportions of unqualified teachers in the OECD, behind Korea, Japan, and Hungary. During the 2024/25 academic year, just 0.3 per cent of primary and secondary teachers in Ireland lacked full qualifications, compared to an OECD average of 9.1 per cent.
Simultaneously, staffing numbers have expanded significantly. The count of primary school teachers in Ireland grew by 27 per cent over a seven-year period, while overall student enrollment dropped by 1 per cent. This growth significantly outpaces the OECD average, where primary teaching staff rose by 13 per cent against a 2-per-cent increase in student numbers.
Special Needs Education and Student Retention Rates
The expansion in teaching personnel reflects a deliberate policy shift toward smaller class sizes to accommodate a rising number of diagnoses for children with additional needs. Schools in the Republic now host nearly 4,000 special classes—almost double the total from six years ago. These designated classes for children with conditions such as autism maintain lower student-to-teacher ratios than mainstream classrooms.
Progress is also evident in youth retention across education and the workforce. The report shows that 9 per cent of individuals aged 18 to 24 were classified as neither employed nor in education or training (NEET) in 2025. This figure marks a decline from 18 per cent in 2015. By comparison, the average share of NEETs across OECD countries with comparable data stood at 13 per cent in 2025, down from 16 per cent in 2015.
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