Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is concerned at the pupil teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools in County Kildare; if he will improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11126/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2016 provides for a one point adjustment to the staffing allocation to primary schools, which will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. This will see the primary staffing schedule operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils. Lower thresholds apply for DEIS Band 1 schools, ranging from 20:1 to 24:1 depending on the type of school. The pupil teacher ratio in the current school year is 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils. Staffing arrangements for the 2016/17 school year are available in Circular 0007/2016, which is published on the Department website.

This budget also provides for an improved staffing allocation to second level schools for the purpose of enhancing guidance provision. This improvement takes effect from next September. It brings the basis of allocation from 19:1 to 18.7:1 for the 2016/17 school year.

Post Primary DEIS schools will also further benefit from the 0.3 improvement to the staffing schedule which will give them an enhanced allocation on the basis of 17.95:1 in respect of the 2016/17 school year.

In the next Budget I will consider the best approach to further meeting commitments in the Programme for Government.