Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action taken to improve the pay and working conditions and opportunities for career development for primary school teachers since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42717/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Pay and workplace reform measures for public servants have been governed by a framework of public service pay agreements for a number of years with the current agreement “Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024-2026” succeeded the previous agreement “Building Momentum 2020-2024” and is in place until June 2026.

The PSA provides for baseline increases of 9.25% for over 100,000 staff in the school sector as well as retired staff, again with lower paid workers receiving higher percentage increases. This follows on from a total of 8.5% to 9.5% increases under Building Momentum. In terms of teacher pay specifically, by the end of this current agreement, these increases will increase the pay of a teacher on the top point to around €85,000 per annum. The starting pay for a teacher will be around €46,000 per annum, compared with just under €37,000 in January 2020. The PSA also provides for a local bargaining process to deal with outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations, awards and claims and is a matter currently under discussion between my Department’s officials and the relevant unions.

Building Momentum 2020-2024 provided for a sectoral bargaining process to deal with outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations, awards and claims which the primary sector used in respect of a number of outstanding claims including an increase in part-time rates for casual staff, the adjustment of allowances for Principals and Deputy Principals and the implementation of 2nd report of the Benchmarking Body. Building Momentum also provided for a specific provision in relation to new entrant teacher pay which allowed for the skipping of Point 12 of the pay scale. This incremental jump provided an additional €1,700 increase. All those who were above point 12 also received an additions incremental jump to the next point on the pay scale. This measure was implemented effective from 1st March 2021 and followed on from measures introduced in the September 2018 (PSSA) agreement which provided for incremental jumps for new entrants at point 4 and 8.

My Department has introduced, via engagement with the teacher unions and management bodies through the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC), a number of non-statutory leave schemes such as a Bereavement Leave Scheme and an Occupational Injury Leave Scheme. My Department has also produced a number of circulars which have given effect to new statutory leave entitlements such as Domestic Violence Leave and Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes. I announced in April the introduction of a new arrangement aimed at assisting teachers to gain permanency more quickly than has been the case up to now. Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the Education partners to finalise the details of this new agreement, following which the details will be published by my Department.

My Department also promotes the quality of teacher professional learning through the provision of high-quality teacher professional learning (TPL) for teachers and school leaders. Through Oide, my Department funded support service for teachers and school leaders, we provide an induction programme for newly-qualified teachers, dedicated support for school leaders and professional learning opportunities for all teachers to support curricular and policy reform.

It is clear then that much has been done to enhance the terms and conditions for teachers. These measures have been achieved through continued engagement and collective bargaining between the Government and the public service unions and show the benefits that such engagement can bring. Any further amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions or through the TCC forum.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the details of the expenditure on ICT in schools since 27 June 2020, on a local authority basis, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42718/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. €35 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has now issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to enable the continued embedding of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment This is the third tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan, with funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

Including the €35m issued this year, a total of €135 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year it is anticipated that providing €35m this year, will enable the balance of €65 million to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.

This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment, and builds on the €210m in grants that issued under the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020.

The information requested is not held in the format referred to, however, please find attached ICT grant funding provided to primary and post primary schools, in tabular form for the period requested by County.

Schools can also use their Minor Works Grant funding for ICT infrastructure, however as this is not-ring fenced for that purpose the amount assigned for such infrastructure cannot be provided.

In addition, new schools and school extension projects receive an allocation for ICT infrastructure as part of furniture and equipment grant funding. The allocation for post-primary level depends on the schedule of accommodation for each school and the defined room usage/subject offering. At primary level, a per classroom allocation of some €6,000 is provided. This information is not readily available in tabular form.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers in each county in 2024- 2025; the provisional allocation in each county for 2025-2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42719/25]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary school teachers in each county in 2024-2025; the provisional allocation in each county for 2025-2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42720/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1150 and 1151 together.

My Department does not currently collate, or publish, details of appointments on a per county basis and therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available.

The allocation process for the 2025/26 school year is currently underway and will not be finalised until the Autumn.

This Government is dedicated to providing every child with a positive school experience, ensuring they have access to qualified and passionate teachers who are committed to their educational growth is a key pillar of this experience.

The recruitment of teachers is a matter for individual boards of management, as such, there are over 3,700 employers for teachers. However, My Department has been working on an analysis of the teacher workforce using payroll information. Data for the number of teachers (in terms of Full Time Equivalent and Headcount) by county is provided for the deputy based on a snapshot of the payroll system at the end of March 2025.

This showed there were over 77,200 teachers employed in Ireland across Primary and Post-Primary level. [The allocation for 2025/26 is currently not available].

As with other sectors, recruitment challenges exist in some schools. To address teacher supply issues, The Government has implemented several measures that have led to:

1) an increase of 20% in Initial Teacher Education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and a 30% increase in the number registered with the Teaching Council since 2017, and

2) between 2018 and 2024 there has been a significant increase of 6,006 (17.42%) post-primary allocated teaching posts.

Measures introduced in recent budgets, included a STEM bursary, a PME fee refund scheme and an expansion of upskilling programmes, reflect the commitment to ongoing investment in the education system to address teacher supply.

Teaching remains an attractive career choice: over 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2024 and over 126,000 now on the register.

Analysis of CAO applications spanning from 2017 to 2024 indicates a sustained and robust demand for undergraduate teaching programmes. On average, 6% of first preference applications during the period from 2017 to 2024 were for either primary or post-primary teaching programmes.

The new pay deal will mean that teachers’ starting salary will increase to €46,000 rising to a maximum of €85,000 per year which compares well internationally.

My Department frequently consults and engages closely with stakeholders on issues such as teacher supply through industrial relations forums, sectoral meetings, and direct discussions with teacher unions.

Additionally, a project began recently supported by UNESCO and the EU Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support will work with stakeholders on strategic workforce planning for teachers in Ireland.

I am considering further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average class size of primary schools, by county and local authority area, in the 2024-2025 school year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42721/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Please find attached requested data. Data provided is collated from the class size data for academic year 2024-2025 and is based on mainstream pupils in mainstream classes.

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/class-size-information-at-individual-primary-school-level/

The Government is investing a record €11.8 billion into education and schools through Budget 2025.

This record level of investment has allowed the Government to invest in tackling educational disadvantage and supporting those with special educational needs to achieve their full potential. It has enabled huge investment in the school buildings programme, in curriculum reform, in school leadership and in continuous professional development for teachers.

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 government and introduce targeted measures in schools with very large classes.

This will build on the progress which has been made by the previous Government. The general average of pupils to teachers in the Primary Staffing Schedule improved from 26 : 1 five years ago to 23 : 1 for the current school year. Average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.1 to 22.5 through the investment we are making in schools.

The Department’s Primary Staffing Schedule is the key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level. This school year, the primary staffing schedule operates on a general average of 23 pupils to every 1 teacher, which is historically the lowest-ever ratio of pupils to teachers at primary level.

More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.

Posts allocated on the basis of this staffing schedule are specifically for mainstream classes. School authorities are requested to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible, taking all relevant contextual factors into account (classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment). In particular, school authorities should ensure that there is an equitable distribution of pupils in mainstream classes and that the differential between the largest and smallest classes is kept to a minimum. Given that the staffing schedule operates to a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, if a school has a large class it generally also has a small class.

Schools have the flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and my Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups.

I am very conscious of the Primary Staffing Schedule and the need to prioritise teacher allocations in primary schools.

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.