Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current average class size in Irish primary schools; the estimated number of additional teachers that would be required to reduce that number by one in the next year; the estimated cost of hiring these additional teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38056/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.

For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold in primary schools has been introduced and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils which is a historical low ratio. Lower thresholds are in place for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.  In addition, a three point reduction in the retention scale has also been introduced for September 2021.  These measures will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.

The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio show an improved ratio of teachers to students from 16:1 to 15:1 at primary level when comparing the 2015/16 school year to the 2019/20 school year.  Average class sizes improved from 24.9 to 24.1 in the same period. The recent improvement in the staffing schedule will continue the positive trend of improvement in the pupil teacher ratio and class sizes.

Each one point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule would require approximately 300 teachers at an apprximate annual cost of €14.5m. 

Any further improvement in the staffing schedule will be considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.