Ireland spends US$13,113 per student on education, trailing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of US$13,601, according to newly released data from the Education at a Glance report. Published on Tuesday, the findings arrive as Irish ministers negotiate departmental allocations ahead of the Budget 2027 announcement next Tuesday.
How Ireland’s Classroom Spending Compares Globally
International comparisons reveal distinct structural priorities across educational tiers in the Republic. While the average OECD expenditure per student reached US$13,601 in 2023, Irish investment sat modestly lower at US$13,113. Here is why that matters for policymakers eyeing the upcoming fiscal allocation.
At the primary level, Irish spending hits US$12,943 per student, tracking closely against the OECD benchmark of US$12,893. However, secondary education tells a different story. Secondary expenditure per student stands at US$12,699 in Ireland, falling notably short of the broader OECD average of US$14,291.
These budgetary pressures coincide with intense domestic scrutiny. Earlier this year, the Department of Education faced a €600 million budget overrun. Officials defended the expenditure as essential for covering baseline running costs and teacher salaries, securing a commitment in June to reset the departmental funding base annually.
Tackling Teacher Shortages Amid Policy Shifts
The OECD report turns a sharp spotlight on global teacher shortages, measuring unfilled posts and the reliance on unqualified personnel. But Ireland occupies a distinctly enviable position on this front. Just 0.3 per cent of primary and secondary educators in Ireland lacked full qualifications during the 2024/25 academic year, placing the country far below the OECD average of 9.1 per cent alongside Korea, Japan, and Hungary.
But there is a catch. Maintaining low ratios and expanding support networks requires aggressive staffing growth. Primary school teacher numbers in Ireland surged by 27 per cent over the past seven years, even as overall primary student enrollment dipped by 1 per cent. Across the OECD, primary teaching staff rose by modest margins, averaging a 13 per cent increase against a 2 per cent student population growth.
| Education Metric | Ireland | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Expenditure Per Student (2023) | US$13,113 | US$13,601 |
| Primary Expenditure Per Student | US$12,943 | US$12,893 |
| Secondary Expenditure Per Student | US$12,699 | US$14,291 |
| Unqualified Teachers (2024/25) | 0.3% | 9.1% |
| NEET Rate (18-24 yrs, 2025) | 9% | 13% |
This deliberate policy pivot targets smaller class sizes to better accommodate a rising volume of children diagnosed with additional needs. Special educational classes across primary and post-secondary levels have nearly doubled over the past six years, scaling to almost 4,000 classrooms designed specifically for autistic children and other students requiring specialized educational support.
Sustaining Youth Employment and Engagement
Beyond the traditional classroom walls, broader societal metrics show measurable gains in youth retention. The proportion of 18- to 24-year-olds classified as NEET—not in employment, education, or training—dropped to 9 per cent in 2025. This marks a sharp improvement from 18 per cent in 2015, outperforming the wider OECD trend where the average NEET share sat at 13 per cent in 2025 down from 16 per cent a decade prior.
As Cabinet ministers finalize the numbers for Budget 2027 against a backdrop of escalating industrial disputes and separate teacher pay negotiations, these international benchmarks offer a sobering baseline.
