Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
441. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the full annual cost of providing one classroom teacher per 19 pupils in primary school; and to make a statement on the matter. [68893/26]
View answerAt primary level, classroom teachers are allocated to schools at a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils. In DEIS Band 1 schools, teachers are allocated at a lower ratio, at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. Each one point reduction in the staffing schedule at primary level for DEIS and non-DEIS schools requires between 350 and 400 additional teaching posts, at an approximate cost of between €28 to €32 million per annum. To reduce the staffing schedule by four points, from 23:1 to 19:1, would cost between €112 and €128 million. Salary costings will rise in line with pay agreements.
The estimated one-off capital cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level is circa €25 to €35 million; and between €100 and €140 million to reduce by four points. This estimated cost is based on certain assumptions regarding the number of new teaching posts generated and available accommodation capacity.
