Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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327. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the teacher pupil ratio to 19:1. [31352/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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. 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.

Each one 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 €22.5 million per annum. 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 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.