Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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721. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools across the country for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58447/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

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.

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.