Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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512. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on her Department’s efforts to reduce the student to teacher ratio in primary schools. [17175/25]

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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513. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on her Department’s efforts to reduce the student to teacher ratio in post-primary schools. [17176/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together.

Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to aim to reduce the general pupil teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of the government and introduce targeted measures in schools with very large classes.

The current teacher allocation ratio stands at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. A three point reduction in the retention schedule assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools are at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. At post primary level, teachers are currently allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector.

The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data in relation to our schools including information on class sizes. The latest statistics available are for the 2023/24 school year. 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.

I am considering how best to make further progress as part of the annual budgetary process in reducing the primary pupil teacher ratio in the context of Programme for Government implementation.