Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
235. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education her plans for reducing class sizes in Ireland for 2024, given that class sizes in Ireland are significantly larger than the majority of other European countries.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31911/23]
View answerUnder the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and I am delighted that I have been able to introduce three successive PTR reductions in each of the last three budgets.
Budget 2023 provided an additional €588 million in funding for education. This significant increase built on recent budgets and further enhanced the investment in the primary and post-primary education system. The significant increased investment reflects the Government’s commitment to a quality, inclusive, school system with improved learning outcomes for every student.
For the current school year, the staffing schedule operates on a general average of 24 pupils to every 1 teacher which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level. More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.
Budget 2023 has implemented a further 1 point reduction for the 2023/24 school year so that primary schools will be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in September 2023.
In Budget 2021, I also introduced a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. The recent announcement in Budget 2023 will further reduce this retention schedule, by virtue of the one point improvement to the staffing schedule that helps to ensure better teacher retention in primary schools, while also ensuring that less pupils are required to retain or recruit a teacher.
The numbers employed in our schools have now reached the highest ever level. Teacher numbers at primary level have increased by over 5,000 when comparing the 2017/18 school year with the current school year and this has led to a steady improvement in the pupil teacher ratio and average class size statistics during this period.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 15.3:1 to 13.7:1 at primary level when comparing the 2017/18 school year to the 2021/22 school year. This compares favourably with the OECD pupil teacher ratio which is 1:15.
In the same period the primary staffing schedule improved from 27:1 to 24:1 for the current school year and will be 23:1 for the 2023/24 school year. Average class sizes in primary improved from 24.5 to 22.8 in the same period.
The 2023 Budget announcements will continue the positive trend of improving class sizes for the current school year, and statistics on this will be published in the next few weeks.
I am very conscious of the staffing schedule and the need to prioritise teacher allocations in primary schools given their vital role in communities around the country. I am looking at how best to make further progress in reducing the primary teacher ratio in the context of the Programme for Government implementation.
