Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timescale and cost of the commitment in the programme for Government to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in junior and senior infants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18731/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce the pupil teacher ratio for junior and senior infants.

The pupil teacher ratio in the current school year is 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils. 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.

Each 1 point adjustment for junior and senior infant classes would have an estimated cost of €4.1m to €4.9m.

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