Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reducing the academic staff to student ratio at third level to 1:15 in each of the years 2017 to 2021, taking forecasted increases in student numbers into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14996/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In the 2014/15 academic year, there were just over 18,000 core staff across the higher education system (whole-time equivalents). This figure encompasses some 9,800 academic staff and 8,300 non-academic staff. These figures do not include contract research staff. There were just over 190,000 students (whole-time equivalents) enrolled in 2014/15 giving an average academic staff:student ratio across the higher education system of 1:19.6.

The attached table provides estimated costs for reducing the academic staff:student ratio to 1:15 over the next five years. These costs factor in projected increases in student numbers, which my Department has projected will increase by 8.7% by 2021 compared to 2014/15 enrolment levels. The costs are based on a continuation of the current academic:non-academic staffing ratio of 1:0.85 and an average salary (including PRSI costs) of €63,000.

Estimated cost of reducing the academic staff student ratio at third level to 1:15 over each of the next five years, taking account of projected demographic increases

*Baseline Year – 2014/15