Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the predicted requirement in each of the next three years for new primary school teachers due only to demographic pressures. [42203/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the predicted requirement for new secondary school teachers in each of the next three years due only to demographic pressures. [42204/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to schools annually and are available on the Department website.

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.

The published staffing arrangements include the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September.

Budgets 2016 and 2017 provided c. 1500 posts to meet rising demographic needs at both primary and post primary level.

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department consistently monitors demographics to identify where additional teaching posts will be required.

Projections of teacher numbers for the next 3 years are currently being updated as part of the Budget process.