Written answers
Thursday, 24 October 2024
Department of Education and Skills
School Staff
Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of approved teacher posts in primary schools in each school year since 2015-2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43721/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Just over 43,000 teachers have been allocated in respect of the current school year 2024/25, for which the allocation process has not completed yet.
In previous budgets, I have prioritised reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, which I introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. I also improved teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools which now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.
The 2023/24 educational statistical report shows that the average pupil teacher ratio at primary level last year was 12.8:1, while the average class size was 22.5. These ratios, brought about by recent budget improvements, are the lowest averages across the last 20 years.
Indicator Description | Unit of Measure | Level | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of primary Teachers | Number | Primary | 34,576 | 35,669 | 36,773 | 37,341 | 37,839 | 38,604 | 40,351 | 41,623 | 42,680 |
of which mainstream teaching teachers | Number | Primary | 21,724 | 22,152 | 22,430 | 22,747 | 22,970 | 23,460 | 23,572 | 23,596 | 23,818 |
of which other teachers | Number | Primary | 12,852 | 13,517 | 14,343 | 14,594 | 14,869 | 15,144 | 16,779 | 18,027 | 18,862 |
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