The key drivers of the growth in teacher numbers over recent years include an overall increase of more than 40,000 pupils in our primary schools and the provision of dedicated supports for pupils with special needs. The number of teachers for pupils with special needs has increased from a very low base to a current level of close to 10,000 teachers between both primary and post-primary levels. There have also been improvements in the staffing schedule for allocating teachers to schools. There is now an average of one mainstream classroom teacher for every 28 pupils.

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