Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools for each of the past ten years; if he will confirm the savings accruing from each change to the ratio during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39171/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. The table below sets out the staffing schedule for the last ten school years.As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools. The estimated savings in respect of this measure is of the order of 250 posts over the three year period, 2012/13 to 2014/15.
The earlier budget measures were based on an estimated yield of the order of 300 to 350 posts for each one point adjustment to the staffing schedule.

School Year Staffing Schedule