Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reduce pupil teacher ratios in primary and secondary schools as announced in Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57302/21]

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

Budget 2022 progressed the ongoing major investment in our primary and post primary school and has brought the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the lowest ever seen at primary level. This is the second successive Budget which has seen an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. This significant increased investment reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to support the educational success of learners and provide a quality inclusive school system with improved learning outcomes for all.

Since Budget 2021, at primary level, the annual staffing schedule which determines the allocation of teachers to schools is now based on an average ratio of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils. Budget 2022 has implemented a further 1 point reduction for the 2022/23 school year so that primary schools will be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 24 pupils in September 2022. Lower thresholds apply to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools. In the current school year there are in excess of 1,500 additional teaching posts in our primary system when compared to the 2019/20 school year.

At post primary level, teachers are currently allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector.

As part of COVID-19 operational supports, 1,000 additional teachers have been allocated to post-primary schools to help reduce class sizes. A teacher allocation equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.6 has been allocated to schools in the free scheme. This allocation supports the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary. These posts will also provide for management supports. In addition an allocation, equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.1 has been provided in respect of Guidance provision to support student wellbeing.

Under the COVID Learning and Support Scheme (CLASS) provision was made for up to €52 Million in extra teaching hours for schools. This has been put in place to help schools mitigate the adverse impacts of Covid-19 on pupil/student learning loss and wellbeing arising from the periods of school closures in 2020 and 2021.

Under this programme, a block of additional teaching hours is being provided to each recognised school, from which schools can provide additional teaching support for the pupils/students who have experienced difficulties in settling back into school and engaging with learning.

The extra teaching hours which are being provided are additional to 13,600 special education teachers who support the additional learning needs of pupils in mainstream primary and post primary schools.