Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost for each one point reduction in the academic staff-to-student ratio in universities. [26751/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that in accordance with the methodology used in the published institutional profiles, the current academic staff: student ratio in Universities is recorded at 20:1.

This is calculated based on the 2017/18 enrolment figures for full time equivalent (FTE) students (full and part time) to all academic staff as at 31 Dec 2017.

A one point reduction would require an estimated additional 288 academic staffand an estimated cost €17 m per annum. It should be noted that this figure includes Department funded staff. The estimated annual cost for a one point reduction in Department funded academic staff, is calculated at 200 staff at an annual cost of €12 m.