Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
437. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated annual cost of increasing the number of primary school teachers by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35323/14]
View answer438. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated annual cost of increasing the number of secondary school teachers by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35324/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.
The indicative annual cost to teacher salaries of increasing the number of primary school teachers by 10% is estimated to be over €150 m. At post primary level the indicative cost to teacher salaries is estimated to be of the order of €110 m.
Any proposed increase in the number of teaching posts in schools will also give rise to associated capital costs relating to school accommodation. Such an adjustment will likely result in an increase in applications from schools particularly under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. Under this scheme, my Department assesses applications for funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement, because of increased enrolments or where an additional teacher has been appointed.
My Department, like all other Government Departments, is operating within a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. This budgetary programme has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing some economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth that will enable us to move to a point in future budgets where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about an improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.
In the meantime, my Department's focus is on targeting any available resources to cater for the continued increase in student numbers across primary, post-primary and third level.
