Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); if she will have this matter examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53732/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 builds on the work of the previous government, whereby prioritisation was given to 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 most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level. More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools. A three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

While small schools have benefitted from the recent improvements in the staffing schedule, there are also specific staffing measures aimed at small schools.

Such measures include reduced enrolment thresholds where a school is 8km or more away from the nearest school of the same type of patronage/language of instruction and a specific staffing appeal criteria aimed at small schools which allows the school to appoint/retain a teacher on the basis of current enrolment rather than the previous 30 September. In addition, sole primary schools on our islands have a second classroom teacher allocated, regardless of enrolment.

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.