Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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475. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the current pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools, in schools under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme and in special schools; the cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio by one point, two points, three points, four points, five points in both primary and secondary schools; her plans to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in September 2015-2016; and the number of additional teachers required to address each point reduction. [17501/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary and post-primary level. The most recent published information relates to the 2013/2014 school year. Data in relation to the 2014/15 school year will be published later in the current school year.Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The staffing schedule at primary level operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils. More favourable ratios operate in DEIS Band 1 schools. Each one point adjustment to the current 28.1 schedule at primary level is estimated to cost of the order of 250 to 300 posts (€18m).

At post primary level teaching posts are allocated on the basis of 19:1 with a ratio of 18.25 applying in DEIS schools and 23.1 in fee charging schools. Each one point adjustment is estimated to cost of the order of 850 to 950 posts (€59m).

My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015.

This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focussed pre-school inspections. The improvements in the Primary Staffing Schedule for small schools which I announced in February last are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year.

The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.

The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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476. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools, in schools under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme and in special schools each year for the past ten years; her future plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17502/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary and post-primary level. The most recent published information relates to the 2013/2014 school year. Data in relation to the 2014/15 school year will be published later in the current school year.My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focussed pre-school inspections. The improvements in the Primary Staffing Schedule for small schools which I announced in February last are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year.

The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.

The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.