Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
364. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated full-year cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratios to 15:1, across primary and post primary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35651/25]
View answerAt primary level, teachers are allocated to schools at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. DEIS Urban Band 1 schools receive an average allocation of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. The current pupil teacher ratio at post-primary level is 19:1 for schools in the free education system, and 23:1 for schools in the fee-paying schools.
Each one point reduction in the staffing schedule at primary level for DEIS and non-DEIS schools requires over 400 additional teaching posts, at a cost of approximately €22.5 million per annum. At post primary level a one point reduction would create circa. 1,200 additional teaching posts at a cost of approximately €66 million per annum. The salary costings will rise in line with the Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024-2026.
The estimated one-off capital cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level is circa €25 to €35 million, while at post-primary level it is circa €60 to €75 million. This estimated cost is based on certain assumptions regarding the number of new teaching posts generated and available accommodation capacity.
