Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:564. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio from 1:27 to 1:22. [33580/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 July 2019
Ceisteanna (564)
Freagraí scríofa
Budget 2019 marks the third year of a major reinvestment in the education. In 2019, the budget for the Department of Education and Skills will increase by €674 million, a 6.7% increase on last year. In total, the Education budget will have increased by €1.7 billion compared to 2016.
Budget 2019 will see numbers employed in our schools reach the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools will be funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes.
For the current school year, the staffing schedule at primary level operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher (26:1) which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.
Each 1 point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule is estimated to cost in the region of €13.5 million per annum.