Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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1201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given the Programme for Government commits to reducing the pupil-teacher ratio to 19:1, and the current pupil-teacher ratio stands at 23:1, when this reduction will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43076/25]

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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1203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the implementation of a pro-rata administration time allowance for deputy principals given the fact that a school with 572 pupils has the same day time administration allocation as a school with 170 pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43082/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1201 and 1203 together.

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The primary staffing arrangements for the 2025/26 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2025.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location. It is an important feature of the staffing schedule that all schools are treated equally and fairly.

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; the lowest ever ratio at primary level. Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools have also been improved and now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. In addition, there has been a three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which has helped schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

Average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.1 to 22.5 in that time, while the ratio of pupils to teachers has improved from 15:1 to 12.8:1, through the investment we are making in 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.

A review of leadership supports, as also committed to in the Programme for Government, is currently in development. This will examine current resourcing, distributed leadership, administrative and advisory supports, and professional learning supports for school leaders. Extensive consultation with stakeholders will inform this work.

Over recent Budgets, the threshold whereby a teaching principal becomes administrative principal has been reduced from an enrolment of 176 pupils to 169 pupils with the Deputy Admin Principal threshold reduced from an enrolment of 655 to 573. Budget 2024 removed the threshold for the appointment of an Administrative Deputy Principal in Special Schools. Budget 2022 ensured that each teaching principal with a minimum of one release day per week became a permanent feature in all our schools. Schools with one special class received four additional release days, while schools with two special classes have administrative principal status.

As well as general teaching posts improvements, a new leadership framework, introduced in 2017, allows for flexibility in identifying and prioritising the evolving leadership and management needs of schools. This shared leadership model supports school leaders in the overall management and operation of schools. It provides for the assignment and re-assignment of post holders to specific roles and responsibilities to meet a school’s evolving needs.

Today, 1 in 3 primary school teachers hold management positions. Budget 2024 provided for an additional 500 Assistant Principal II posts for the current school year while Budget 2025 provided for the equivalent of 500 Assistant Principal II posts, being distributed as 110 Assistant Principal I posts and 251 Assistant Principal II posts for the purposes of fully restoring all posts of responsibility in primary schools. A revised Post of Responsibility Schedule issued to schools in April, to reflect this increase in posts of responsibility available to schools for the coming school year.

In examining leadership, I am acutely aware that we need to protect what works well in our school system and serves so many young people so well. We want to build on the strengths of the system and address challenges that will support our school communities and be responsive to the needs of students in an increasingly complex world.

The Programme for Government also commits to a trial of new administrative support for principals and boards of management to assist with the demands faced and support school leaders in rebalancing some of their time to leading teaching and learning. Planning for this trial is now at an advanced stage.