News: From 25 to 24 as class size becomes headline for education in Budget 2022

From 25 to 24 as class size becomes headline for education in Budget 2022

THE Government has promised to reduce the national student-teacher ratio from 25-1 to 24-1. In order to do this there will be around 1,750 additional teachers in the education system in 2022 over 2021, including some 980 special education needs teachers.

The 2022 gross core expenditure allocation for the Department of Education will be some €9.2 billion, €0.5 billion (5.8%) above 2021. Around €1.2 billion (15%) extra will be allocated to education at school level in 2022 compared to 2019, which includes special Covid spending.

Some 1,165 additional special needs assistants (SNAs) will be allocated, bringing the total numbers to almost 19,200 in 2022. The breakdown of the 1,165 SNA posts is: • 574 to support students in new special classes • 46 to support students in new special school places • 545 to support students in mainstream classes on children.

The 980 new teacher posts are broken down as follows: • 620 of the new posts will provide additional support for those children attending mainstream classes including new and expanding schools. • 360 posts will facilitate the opening of 287 new special classes providing over 1,700 new places in 2022 and 140 new special school places.

€10,000 €9,000 €8,000 €7,000 €6,000 €5,000

Gross Current and Capital Expenditure 2019 to 2022 (€'m)

2019 2020 2021 2022 Gross Current Expenditure Gross Capital Expenditure

By the numbers

€9.2 billion: 2022 Budget of the Department of Education 1,750 Additional teachers in the education system in 2022 over 2021, including some 980 special education needs teachers 19,200 Special needs assistants in the education system in 2022, an increase of 1,165 on 2021 30,000 The number of school places that will be provided by 200 large scale and additional accommodation school projects currently at construction stage €87 million Funding provided specifically to support schools as they continue to operate in a Covid-19 environment €790 million Providing additional capacity to the school system to manage in the Covid environment and to cater for increased demographics with 30,000 extra pupil places.

#HelloMIC Gross Current & Capital expenditure 2019 to 2022€9,500 Core & Covid (€'m)

€9,000

€8,500

€8,000

€7,500

€7,000

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES AT MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE

€6,500 €6,000 EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES 2019 2020 2021 2022

Capital Expenditure Covid €0 €180 • Structure€0 d PhD in Educ€0 ation

Capital Expenditure Core €764 €745 • Structu€940 red PhD/Masters€792 in Literacy Education

Current Expenditure Covid €0 €151 • Doctora€308 te in Educati€87 onal and Child Psychology

Current Expenditure Core €7,297 €7,634 • Professi€7,913 onal Master of€8,358 Education (Primary Teaching) • Master of Education (M Ed) • M Ed in Religious Education • M Ed in Educational Leadership and Management Schools and • MSpecial Education Ed in Leadership of Wellbeing in Education • M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta Teacher numbers and demographics • • M M A A i i n n Educa STEM tion and th Education e Arts (META) • MA in Music Education The total number of new teaching posts will be in the region of 1,750 by the end of 2022. Of these posts, 980 additional teachers will be working with children with special educational needs • Graduate Diploma/M Ed, 420 additional posts will arise following the inclusion of more schools in the DEIS in Adult and Further Education scheme while a further 350 new teaching posts will be • Graduate Diploma/M Ed increated at primary level arising from a Information and Communication further reduction in the staffing schedule – see below. Technologies in Primary Education • Graduate Diploma/M Ed in Special Education Needs • Graduate Diploma in Mentoring and Leadership in Schools • Graduate Certificate/G 4raduate Diploma/M Ed in Middle Leadership and Mentoring in Primary and Post-Primary Settings • An Teastas iarchéime i dTeagasc Ábharbhunaithe (TTA) san Iarbhunscolaíocht Lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta • Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice • Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Autism Studies LIBERAL ARTS POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

• Structured PhD in Applied Linguistics • Structured PhD in Contemporary Irish Studies • MA in Applied Linguistics (online/on-campus/blended) • MA sa Ghaeilge • MA in History • MA in Local History (with UL) • MA in Media Studies • MA in Modern English Literature • MA in Language and Culture in Europe • Certificate/MA in Christian Leadership in Education

PhD & MA BY RESEARCH AND THESIS IN THE FOLLOWING LIBERAL ARTS DEPARTMENTS

Drama and Theatre Studies; English Language & Literature; French Studies; Gaeilge; German Studies; Geography; History; Mathematics and Computer Studies; Media & Communication Studies; Music; Philosophy; Psychology; Theology and Religious Studies.

PhD & MA BY RESEARCH AND THESIS IN THE FOLLOWING EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS

Learning, Society & Religious Education; Language & Literacy Education; Arts Education & Physical Education; Reflective Pedagogy & Early Childhood Studies; Educational Psychology, Inclusive & Special Education; STEM Education. www.mic.ie