Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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505. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional teachers needed to reduce the pupil teacher ratio by one point; and the reason her Department has failed to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in classrooms by even one point, as budget 2026 only provides an additional 182 mainstream teachers. [55318/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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510. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the €3 million allocation in budget 2026 to provide additional deputy principals in primary and post-primary schools; and the number of additional deputy principals are expected to be hired, broken down by primary and post-primary level. [55323/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 510 together.

Budget 2026 provides for a total of €13.1 billion investment in education and in youth services in Budget 2026 – an almost 7 per cent increase on last year.

Education Plan 2025, which aims to deliver a world-class education system which breaks down barriers and ensures every child can achieve their potential, clearly outlines the government’s commitment to education and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential. Budget 2026 will not only take action to tackle educational disadvantage in schools, it will support the recruitment of teachers and SNAs, and provide important increased funding to schools.

Budget 2026 provides an increase of €845 million in core current funding for education and youth on the figure allocated for 2025, while the total investment figure also includes €1.6 billion allocated for 2026 as part of the National Development Plan 2026 – 2030.

This funding reflects the Government’s continued commitment, under the Programme for Government, to ensuring that every child and young person can learn, thrive and reach their full potential. It builds on the progress made in recent years, while recognising that further work is needed to make education more inclusive and equitable for all.

Funding has been provided for 860 special education teachers, across special schools and mainstream settings, along with more than 1700 SNAs. In addition, school leadership supports have been increased and will see additional deputy principals in primary and post-primary schools.

The Budget documentation published sets out funding for key measures and actions agreed for the coming year. As the Deputy may be aware, in line with standard practice, the final allocation of funding for my Department for 2026 will be set out in the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which is due to be published later this year. Further details on the 2026 allocations for my Department will be available after the 2026 REV process is complete.

Priority was given in recent Budgets 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. In 2015, teachers were allocated to primary schools at a general average of 28 pupils for every one teacher. In the same 10 year period, average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.9 to 22.2 and the pupil : teacher ratio (commonly referred to as PTR) shows the ratio of pupils to teachers improve from 16:1 to 12.8:1.

In addition to the reductions in the teacher allocation ratio, 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.

Each one point reduction in the staffing schedule at primary level for DEIS and non-DEIS schools requires between 350 - 400 additional teaching posts, at a cost of approximate cost between €26.7 - €30.5 million per annum. The salary costings will rise in line with the Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024-2026.