Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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826.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year and first-year cost, respectively, of reducing the pupil-teacher staffing ratio by one point at primary level; the estimated capital cost of additional accommodation of same; the existing staffing ratios; the revised ratios; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32990/24]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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827.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full-year and first-year cost, respectively, of reducing the pupil-teacher staffing ratio by one point, at post-primary level; what the capital cost of additional accommodation would be; to provide the existing staffing ratios; what the revised ones would be; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32991/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 827 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.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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828.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the existing pupil-teacher staffing ratios or additional allocations to each type of DEIS school; the additional cost of reducing those ratios by one point each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32992/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I have introduced three improvements in the staffing schedule for all schools, both DEIS and non DEIS since 2020. I provided for a one point improvement in the staffing schedule for all schools for the 2021/22 school year, a further 1 point improvement for 2022/23 and a further 1 point reduction from September 2023.

This means that since September 2023 the staffing schedule for DEIS Urban Band 1 vertical schools is 19:1, DEIS Urban Band 1 junior schools is 17:1 and DEIS Urban Band 1 senior schools is 21:1. It is estimated that each 1 point improvement in the staffing schedule for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools, would require in the region of an additional 70 teaching posts.

The mainstream staffing schedule applies to all DEIS Urban Band 2 and DEIS Rural schools. I have brought in measures to reduce class sizes for all schools, including DEIS Urban Band 2 and DEIS Rural schools, by lowering the staffing schedule and bringing it to an historic low of 23:1. A one point improvement in the staffing schedule for DEIS Urban Band 2 schools would require in the region of an additional 20 new posts. The same measure applied to DEIS Rural schools would require in the region of an additional 60 new posts.

A reduction of 1 point in the PTR for post primary DEIS schools would create in the region of 310 posts.

The overall cost of a 1 point reduction in the staffing schedule for DEIS primary and post-primary schools would cost in the region of €26 million.

Any further improvement in the staffing schedule must be considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.