Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2026
329. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the action taken to reduce class sizes and the pupil teacher ratio at primary school level since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54540/26]
View answer333. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary school teachers in each county in 2025-2026; the provisional allocation in each county for 2026-2027, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54544/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 333 together.
Priority was given in recent Budgets to reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. Since 2020, the pupil teacher ratio has been improved from 26:1 to the current allocation of 23:1, the most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level. In addition, there has been a three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. This measure helps to ensure better teacher retention in primary schools while also ensuring that fewer pupils are required to retain or recruit a teacher. Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools have also been improved and now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.
The primary school staffing arrangements for the 2026/27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. The allocation process for the 2026/27 school year is currently underway and will not be finalised until the Autumn, when the staffing appeal and projected enrolment processes have been completed.
The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data in relation to our schools, including information on pupil teacher ratio and the number of classes in each individual school. Information on the 2024/25 school year has been published, while data on the current school year will be available during the summer.
I am considering how best to make further progress as part of the annual budgetary process in reducing the primary pupil : teacher ratio in the context of Programme for Government implementation.
