Primary schools to benefit from additional capitation funding from September
- Published on: 24 June 2025
- Last updated on: 24 June 2025
Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee has today (24 June) confirmed that primary schools in the Free Education Scheme will receive an increased capitation rate over the coming days.
Education measures announced in Budget 2025 included a significant increase in school funding with State funding per pupil for day-to day running expenses – known as the capitation rate – increasing from €200 to €224 per student for the standard rate in primary schools. Further enhanced rates apply for students with additional needs.
The new standard rate of grant for the 2025/2026 school year is €224 per mainstream pupil with effect from 1 September 2025. The capitation payment issuing to primary schools in the coming days will take into account the increase in the rate from September to December.
Minister McEntee said:
“I am pleased to announce that primary schools will this week receive their second capitation payment of the year, which will be the first payment with the significant increase in primary school funding capitation rates. The capitation funding can be used by schools to meet the cost of items such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general upkeep.
“This funding will benefit schools around the country in managing their day-to-day running costs.
“The government is committed to increasing funding to support schools, and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet their day-to-day running costs.”
Notes
The overall capitation grant is paid based on the current school year’s September enrolments and is paid in two instalments, January and June of each year.
The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including a €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding to assist all schools at primary and post-primary level, now and longer term, with increased day-to-day running costs, through Budget 2025.
This represents an increase of circa 12 per cent on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the approximately 9.2 per cent increase from Budget 2024.
Standard Capitation Rates
The standard rate of grant for the 2025/2026 school year is €224 per mainstream pupil with effect from 01 September 2025
Enhanced Capitation Rates – special schools and special classes attached to mainstream schools
In addition to the increase in Standard Capitation, the enhanced rates of capitation will also increase with effect from 01 September 2025.
Enhanced capitation rates are payable in respect of Traveller pupils and pupils attending special schools and special classes attached to mainstream schools to assist with the extra costs associated with the running costs of classrooms with a small number of pupils operating specialist provision.
Arrangements for 2025
Primary schools received a payment in January 2025 of 70 per of the 2025 primary capitation grant due to them.
In the coming days, the balancing payment for 2025 will be paid out. This June payment takes into account both the increase in the primary capitation rate from September to December and balances any change due to a school’s grant due to enrolment levels on 30 September in the 24/25 school year.
Note: The grant paid to small schools is based on a minimum enrolment of 60 mainstream pupils.