Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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662.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost in 2025 of reducing the teacher-pupil ratio by one point at primary level. [31689/24]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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663.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost in 2025 of reducing the teacher-pupil ratio by one point at post primary level [31690/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 662 and 663 together.

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 1 point reduction in the staffing schedule at Primary level for Deis and non Deis schools requires over 400 additional teaching posts, at a cost of approximately €7.5 million in the first year and in excess of €22.5 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 to €35 million. This estimated cost is based on certain assumptions regarding the number of new teaching posts generated and available accommodation capacity.

The salary costing used is the current cost of a new entrant primary teacher of €56,126.

Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level would create circa. 1,200 additional teaching posts at a cost of approximately €22.7 million in the first year and approximately €66 million per annum after that. The salary costing used is the current cost of a new entrant post-primary teacher of €57,177.

The salary costings will rise in line with the Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024-2026.

The estimated one-off capital cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point as post-primary level is circa €60-€75 million. This estimated cost is based on certain assumptions regarding the number of new teaching posts generated and available accommodation capacity.

The current pupil teacher ratio at post-primary level is 19:1 for schools in the free education system, and 23:1 for schools in the fee-paying schools.