Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of mainstream teaching posts, special education teaching posts and special needs assistants added at each of primary and post-primary levels for the 2021-2022 school year; the way these numbers compare to commitments made for each in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45333/21]

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 schools annually and are available on the Department website.

At primary level, Budget 2021 provided for 394 posts to reduce further the primary staffing schedule by one point, bringing this to a historically low level of 25:1, and to reduce the retention schedule by three points. This measure will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.

Some 268 additional mainstream teachers in schools will be recruited to meet demographic-related demand due to the expected overall increases in the number of pupils enrolled in schools at both primary and post primary levels.

An additional 145 Special Education teachers were provided for in Budget 2021, while 990 SNA posts were allocated as part of the Budget.

The allocation process for the 2021/22 school year is ongoing and the final allocation will not be known until the Autumn when the staffing appeal process has been completed.