Ireland - Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley have today (10 July) announced the publication of the next edition of Education Indicators for Ireland 2024.
The report presents a comprehensive set of indicators for the education system in Ireland,
including a snapshot of the system in the 2023/24 school year and a look back at how the system progressed over the five years from 2019 to 2023.For the first time, the 2024 Indicators report includes a dedicated chapter on education in early childhood as well as spanning primary and post-primary school levels, further and higher education and lifelong learning.
Key indicators highlighted in the report include:
Early Learning and Care
- Early learning and care provision has seen steady increases in enrolments since 2021
- Staffed capacity for full-day provision for children under three has steadily increased since the introduction of the Core Funding Scheme, with increasing numbers of children in this age cohort now availing of the National Childcare Scheme
Primary and Post-Primary
- A rise in the overall number of teachers
- A continued fall in the pupil-teacher ratio at both primary and post-primary level
- An increase in the number of special needs assistants
- An increase in the total number of students taking the Leaving Certificate programme
Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Growth in the number of students supported by grants
- An increase and broadening in the apprentice population
- Increased uptake of courses on green skills
Minister McEntee said:
“I am so pleased to welcome the publication of today’s Education Indicators report – the first of its kind to comprehensively cover education at all stages from early learning and care, through primary and post-primary education to further and higher education and lifelong learning. In presenting a snapshot of the entire education system as it is now, the report shares extensive insights which will be invaluable in helping to formulate future education policy.
“The report illustrates the great strides which have been made in education in recent years, while also highlighting the significance of areas where work is being prioritised to continue to improve the teaching and learning experience for our school communities. Numbers of teachers and SNAs continue to rise, while our pupil-teacher ratios and primary class sizes have decreased. It is heartening to see also that DEIS post-primary school retention rates have increased to 90% in 2023. I am committed to doing more to support our school communities and students to ensure that there is continued progress across the education sector.”
Minister Lawless said:
“The breadth of this report shows the wide and flexible array of learning opportunities available, and it is heartening to see evidence of a continued appetite for learning, whether it be in higher education, further education, or on an apprenticeship. We nevertheless have work before us to ensure that these opportunities to flourish are accessible for all.
"This represents a vital mission. Education, skills, and, critically, their interplay with the wider research and innovation system, will be essential to our tackling the most significant challenges that we face as a society.”
Minister Foley said:
“Investment in early learning and care is a key priority for this Government given the enormous benefits it confers to children, their families as well as society and the economy.
“Today’s report highlights the significant progress we have made in ensuring all children have access to early learning and childcare that is of the highest quality.
“We have more children than ever, including children with a disability, participating in early learning and care, more families supported to offset the cost of early learning and care and more educators and practitioners working in the sector – with a year-on-year increase in the proportion of educators with degree qualifications.
“I am committed to continuing to make further progress on the positive trends we see in this report through delivery of an ambitious work programme that has been committed to in the Programme for Government.”
The full report is available online.
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