Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 October 2014
180. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to the Exchequer that would be involved in reducing the minimum number of pupils required for a staffing allocation of two teachers in a school to 17. [38621/14]
View answer181. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to the Exchequer that would be involved in reducing the minimum number of pupils required for a staffing allocation of three teachers in a school to 54. [38622/14]
View answer182. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to the Exchequer that would be involved in reducing the minimum number of pupils required for a staffing allocation of four teachers in a school to 84. [38623/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 to 182, inclusive, together.
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The staffing schedule at primary level operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils. More favourable ratios operate in DEIS schools. Each one point adjustment to the current 28.1 schedule at primary level is estimated to cost of the order of 250 posts (€15m). A significant amount of analysis would be required to provide an indicative estimate for the costings requested by the Deputy. It is not possible in the time available, to undertake such an analysis. This information will be provided to the Deputy as soon as it can be gathered. Given the current budgetary environment there is no scope in the short term to consider improvements to pupil teacher allocation ratios. My Department's focus for the foreseeable future is on targeting any additional resources to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system.
