Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio at post-primary level by one point. [33169/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

Teachers are currently allocated to post primary schools at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector. Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level would result in an additional 1150 teaching posts at an estimated cost of €56.5m per annum.