Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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312. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional teachers that would be needed to reduce the pupil/teacher ratio to 22:1 at primary level. [31087/23]

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.

In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the lowest ever seen at primary level. This was my third successive Budget which saw an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, in place since 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

A one point improvement in the staffing schedule at primary level would require approximately 300 additional teaching posts.