Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost in relation to the commitments entered into in the recently published revised programme for Government. [36596/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The recently published Revised Programme for Government provide for a number of specific measures in the education sector including a commitment to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio for the lifetime of the Government, 500 teaching posts over the next three years, funding for 28 additional psychologist posts, standard capitation grants to schools being maintained and an extra allocation being made available to schools for needs such as book rental schemes and curricular activities.

The commitment to maintain the standard capitation grants to schools will not give rise to additional costs only insofar as it relates to increases in the school going population, the costing of which would form part of the annual estimates and budgetary process. While the precise costs of the additional teaching posts cannot be determined until the actual appointments are made it is anticipated that every teacher appointed will give rise to an initial annual pay cost of approx. €46,000 on appointment rising to an average of €64,000 over time. This does not include any additional capital cost which may arise through the provision of additional classrooms where required. The funding of the additional 28 psychological posts is expected to give rise to an additional full year cost of approx €2.3m. The exact level of additional funding for schools for the consolidated grants will be considered in the context of the estimates and budgetary process.

The Revised Programme also provides for other measures which have the potential to give rise to additional costs for the education sector. These include for example delivery of 100 MBs Broadband for all second level schools by 2012 and roll out of new digital access devices for teachers and students. However it is not possible to give an exact costing at this early stage unit the implementation arrangements are worked out. As the Deputy is aware the Revised Programme for Government is for delivery over the period to 2012.