Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the lowest ever seen at primary level. This was my third successive Budget which saw an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, in place since 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools are at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.
The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data in relation to our schools including pupil teacher ratios and teacher numbers. The numbers requested by the Deputy are attached.
|
Year
|
Teacher Numbers
|
|
2018/19
|
37,341
|
|
2019/20
|
37,839
|
|
2020/21
|
38,604
|
|
2021/22
|
40,351
|
|
2022/23
|
41,812*
|
* provisional, pending publication
Each one point improvement in the staffing schedule at primary level for DEIS and non-DEIS schools requires between 350-400 additional teaching posts, at a cost of in excess of €20.5 million per annum.
In addition each one point improvement in the staffing schedule to include both DEIS and non-DEIS schools, is estimated to generate capital costs of circa €40 million.
