Almost 14,000 children and teenagers start school across Carlow
Back-to-school season has started in Carlow, with almost 14,000 students beginning or returning to education
Almost 14,000 children and teenagers have started or will start school in Carlow as the academic year gets underway.
First days began last week, with some across the county yet to come for many.
A total of 13,835 pupils went to school in Carlow, with 7,276 of those being in primary schools, including special schools.
6,559 students started or went back to secondary school.
1,120 of those were first years, while 780 children began junior infants.
Nationally, 965,000 children and young people started or returned to school, with 536,000 of those in primary and special schools.
Over 75,000 teachers returned or started, with 39,300 teachers in primary schools, 34,600 teachers in post-primary schools, and 1,870 teachers in special schools.
23,000 special need assistants (SNAs) joined them.
34,000 children and young people will attend a special class or special school in Ireland.
It will cost the state €14.1 billion to get schools staffed and pay former teachers their pension.
€8 billion in pay for over 112,000 teachers and other staff in schools, education and youth sector.
€1.7 billion will be for pensions for 50,800 school staff retirees.
€1.7 billion has been allocated for around 1,000 building projects on site in 2026 across various programmes and schemes, while €804 million in Capitation, Grants and Free School Books has been set aside.
€641 million will go towards school transport for 181,000 students and €346 million for teacher education, curriculum grants/reforms, department/aegis bodies and more.