Budget 2026 ‘a missed opportunity’ to upgrade education, says Cork TD 

Budget 2026 failed to tackle child poverty, overcrowded classrooms, underfunded schools, and the mistreatment of education workers, a local TD has said.

Cork TD and Labour Party education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny said Tuesday’s budget lacked ambition on education.

Included in the allocation of €13.1bn for education were 1,717 additional special needs assistants, and an increase of 1,042 teacher posts, including 860 additional special needs teachers.

There will be additional funding to support the implementation of Deis+ and a new Deis plan for children at risk of educational disadvantage.

However, Mr Kenny said Budget 2026 had failings: “This budget is another missed opportunity to show real ambition for Ireland’s children, teachers, and school communities,” he said.

“It is not enough to make token gestures while ignoring the major issues at the heart of our education system.

“The Government must commit to reducing class sizes, properly funding schools, delivering equal access to hot meals, and treating education workers with the respect they deserve.”

John Byrne, a teacher in Bandon and an Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland standing committee representative, said the Government missed an opportunity to invest further in education.

Increased

He said: “A United Nations panel on the teaching profession recently advised governments that investment in education should be increased. At the moment, we are investing 0.8% of our gross domestic product on education. That is less than half of the EU average.”

Meanwhile, there is a permanent reduction of €500 in the student contribution fee to support students facing rising living expenses.

UCC Students’ Union president Alex Angland told The Echo that the measure is counter-productive.

“On one hand, we welcome the first-ever permanent reduction in the student contribution fee. But, on the other hand, students will still be paying €500 more than they were last year.”

Mr Angland said he would have liked more of a commitment on student accommodation.

“There is a huge need for UCC and in Cork to have publicly-owned, purpose-built student accommodation. UCC has the lowest number of beds per student in the university sector.”

Cork Labour Party senator Laura Harmon said there was serious concern now regarding the student poverty crisis.

“Last year, a UCC study found that more than a quarter of its students had gone to class hungry. This is as a direct result of sky-high accommodation costs and the persistence of the contribution fee,” she said.