Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the appointment and retention figures for mainstream teachers in all primary schools including DEIS band 1 schools by two pupils from September 2025. [21743/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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At primary level, teachers are allocated to schools at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. DEIS Urban Band 1 schools receive an average allocation of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.

Each one point improvement in the staffing schedule at primary level for DEIS and non-DEIS schools requires between 350-400 additional teaching posts, at a cost of approximately €6.85 million in the first year and in excess of €20.5 million per annum after that. The estimated one-off capital cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level is circa €25-€35 million. This estimated cost is based on certain assumptions regarding the number of new teaching posts generated and available accommodation capacity.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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338. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to restore 250 assistant principal 1 posts and 1,450 assistant principal 2 posts to the primary school sector from 1 September 2025. [21744/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise the key role school leadership in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.

The Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts of responsibility (POR) in primary and special schools by 1,450 posts.

Budget 2024 has also provided for an additional 500 posts of responsibility (Assistant Principal II) at both primary and post-primary level for the 2024/25 school year and a revised Post of Responsibility Schedule has issued to schools to reflect this increase in Assistant Principal II posts available to schools from September 2024.

The current annual rates for Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II posts are €9,974 and €4,413 respectively.