Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the projected need for an additional 4,000 teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19188/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Pupil numbers at both primary and post-primary level are increasing annually and are projected to continue to increase for the forseeable future. I acknowledge that this will result in increased requirements for additional teachers in the school system.

Notwithstanding the difficult budgetary climate the Government has tried, as best as possible, to protect front line services in the education sector. In Budget 2014, the Government made provision for an increase of about 1,400 teachers at primary and post-primary level to cater for increased demographics and additional resource teachers to cater for pupils with low incidence special needs.

The Government will continue to ensure that appropriate provision is made for increasing demographics as part of the annual budgetary process.