Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the matter of pupil teacher ratios in Budget 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33944/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. At primary level, it currently operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils, with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. I have already indicated that I am determined that education should be prioritised for investment as our economy recovers and I will be seeking to agree a set of priorities for such increased investment into the future. In the last Budget, I was able to secure the first increase in education spending in recent years. I am very aware that we need to invest more in our youngest children, and in supporting parents to make the choices that are right for them. Our schools need more staffing, better funding, and functioning middle-management structures and I am determined that we will build on what we achieved last year.

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