Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
440. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the full annual cost of providing one classroom teacher per 20 pupils at second level; and to make a statement on the matter. [68894/26]
View answerTeacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September.
At post-primary level, the current staffing arrangements provide for a pupil-teacher ratio of 19:1 to all second level schools in the free education scheme and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector.
At post-primary level, increasing the pupil-teacher ratio from 19:1 to 20:1 would result in a reduction of approximately 1,058 teaching posts. The estimated exchequer savings associated with such a change would be €29 million in the first year and €86 million per annum thereafter.
