Guidelines for applying for EAL supports for Criteria A (New Entrants) for the 2026/27 school year
- Published on: 21 April 2026
- Last updated on: 21 April 2026
Post-Primary Schools
A school’s overall EAL profile and current English as an Additional Language (EAL) allocation will be taken into account when considering an application for temporary EAL support. In applying for EAL support, pupils must have specific language needs as a result of English being an additional language.
Schools are advised to refer to Post Primary Staffing Arrangement Circulars for the 2026-27 school year Circular 0026/2026, 0027/2026, 0028/2026 and to consider the following before submitting an application for further EAL support:
1. Permanent language support post(s) in 2026/27:
Alleviation measures in the form of permanent EAL posts were put in place in the 2012/13 school year for schools with a high concentration of Language (EAL) support pupils. These schools will continue to receive this allocation in the 2026/27 school year. This allocation will be taken into account when considering an application for temporary EAL support.
2. Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation:
The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation provides a unified allocation for special education support teaching needs to each school based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses an element of Language (EAL) support allocation. Under this SET model, schools are frontloaded with resources to provide support immediately to those pupils who need it without delay.
Please note:
- The temporary EAL allocation provided based on the information supplied will be sanctioned on a provisional basis, subject to confirmation of the enrolment of all eligible pupils in September 2026.
- Pupils must be recorded in the year in which they are enrolling for the 2026/27 school year, not the year they attended in 2025/26.
- Pupils’ PPSN must be confirmed. If Pupils’ PPSN is not known at the time of application, please use the default PPSN provided on the Online form. Schools should submit the confirmed PPSN to allocations@education.gov.ie when schools are completing POD returns.
- Pupils must be applied for under only one Criteria. Students cannot be applied for under both Criteria A and Criteria B.
- Applications will be processed from date of receipt, of completed application.
New-Entrant pupil definition
New-Entrant pupils are defined as pupils that have entered the country in the past two years, require English as an additional Language (EAL) support and have less than 2 years support in the Irish school system by 30 June 2026.
Pupils must meet ALL 4 of the criteria listed below:
- First arrived in Ireland after August 2024
- Have specific language needs as a result of English being an additional language
- First arrived in Ireland aAugust 2024ool system by 31 May 2026
- Enrolled for the 2026/27 school year
| No of New-entrant pupils (Criteria A) | No. of Teaching hours per week |
|---|---|
| 1 – 4 | 5 |
| 5 – 8 | 10 |
| 9 – 13 | 15 |
| 14 – 20 | 20 |
| 21 – 30 | 25 |
| 31 – 40 | 35 |
| >40 | 50 |
Additional information
Post Primary Appeals Board
An allocation in respect of EAL support may be provided to schools based on the information supplied in the attached forms. If a school authority is not satisfied with the Department’s decision on its application for EAL support, an appeal may be submitted to the Post Primary Staffing Appeals Board on Form AP EAL 2026/27. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department. The decision of the Appeals Board is final.
Retention of records:
Schools should retain a copy of this application form which may be requested during the course of a school inspection.
Post Primary Online Database (P POD) Returns:
Schools can refer to their September 2025 PPOD returns when completing this form.
Primary schools
A school’s overall EAL profile and current English as an Additional Language (EAL) allocation will be taken into account when considering an application for temporary EAL support. In applying for EAL support, pupils must have specific language needs as a result of English being an additional language.Schools are advised to refer to Primary Staffing arrangement Circular for the 2026-27 school year Circular 0025/2026 and to consider the following before submitting an application for further EAL support:
1. Permanent language support post(s) in 2026/27:
Alleviation measures in the form of permanent EAL posts were put in place in the 2012/13 school year for schools with a high concentration of Language (EAL) support pupils. These schools will continue to receive this allocation in the 2026/27 school year. This allocation will be taken into account when considering an application for temporary EAL support.
2. Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation:
The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation provides a unified allocation for special education support teaching needs to each school based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses an element of Language (EAL) support allocation. Under this SET model, schools are frontloaded with resources to provide support immediately to those pupils who need it without delay.
Please Note:
- The temporary EAL allocation provided based on the information supplied will be sanctioned on a provisional basis, subject to confirmation of the enrolment of all eligible pupils in September 2026.
- Pupils must be recorded in the class in which they are enrolling for the 2026/27 school year, not the class they attended in 2025/26.
- Pupils’ PPSN must be confirmed. If Pupils’ PPSN is not known at the time of application, please use the default PPSN provided on the Online form. Schools should submit the confirmed PPSN to primarystaffingappeals@education.gov.ie when schools are completing POD returns.
- Due to potential fluctuations in hours throughout the year, Part Time Language Support hours cannot be used for clustering.
- Students must be applied for under only one Criteria. Students cannot be applied for under both Criteria A and Criteria B.
- Applications will be processed from date of receipt, of completed application.
New-Entrant Pupils are defined as pupils that have entered the country in the past two years, require English as an additional Language (EAL) support and have less than 2 years support in the Irish school system by 30 June 2026.
New-Entrant pupil definition
Pupils must meet ALL 4 of the criteria listed below.
- First arrived in Ireland since August 2024
- Have specific language needs as a result of English being an additional language
- Less than 2 years support in the Irish school system by 30 June 2026
- Enrolled for the 2026/27 school year
|
No of New-entrant pupils (Criteria A) |
No. of Teaching hours per week |
|---|---|
| 1 – 4 | 5 |
| 5 – 8 | 10 |
| 9 – 13 | 15 |
| 14 – 20 | 20 |
| 21 – 30 | 25 |
| 31 – 40 | 35 |
| >40 | 50 |
Additional Information
Weekly hours allocated, subject to Confirmation of Enrolment, should not be overused for the first 8 weeks of the academic year.
Primary Appeals Board:
An allocation in respect of EAL support may be provided to schools based on the information supplied in the attached forms. If a school authority is not satisfied with the Department’s decision on its application for EAL support, an appeal may be submitted to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board on Appendix F (d). The Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department. The decision of the Appeals Board is final.
Retention of records:
Schools should retain a copy of this application form which may be requested during the course of a school inspection.
Primary Online Database (POD) Returns:
Schools can refer to their September 2025 POD returns when completing this form.