The revised programme for Government provides for a number of specific measures in the education sector, including a commitment to no further increase in the pupil-teacher ratio for the lifetime of the Government; 500 teaching posts over the next three years; funding for 28 additional psychologist posts; standard capitation grants to schools being maintained and an extra allocation being made available to schools for needs such as book rental schemes and curricular activities.
The commitment to maintain the standard capitation grants to schools will not give rise to additional costs except in so far as it relates to increases in the schoolgoing population, the costing of which would form part of the annual Estimates and budgetary process. While the precise costs of the additional teaching posts cannot be determined until the actual appointments are made it is anticipated that every teacher appointed will give rise to an initial annual pay cost of approximately €46,000 on appointment rising to an average of €64,000 over time.
Assuming 200 extra teachers from the beginning of next year and a further 150 teachers next September, the extra pay costs next year will be in the order of €11 million, and the ongoing full year pay cost when all 500 teachers are employed at average salary will be in the order of €32 million. The funding of the additional 28 psychologist posts is expected to give rise to an additional full year cost of approximately €2.3 million. The exact level of additional funding for schools for the consolidated grants will be considered in the context of the Estimates and budgetary process.
The revised programme also provides for other measures which have the potential to give rise to additional costs for the education sector. These include delivery of 100MBs broadband for all second level schools by 2012 and roll out of new digital access devices for teachers and students. In addition it provides for the development of a costed multi-annual plan to implement some priority aspects of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, focusing on measurable, practical progress in education and health services for children with special needs.
It is not possible, however, to give an exact costing on these issues at this early stage until the implementation arrangements are worked out. As the Deputy is aware the revised programme for Government is for delivery over the period to 2012.