337. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the appointment and retention figures for mainstream teachers in all primary schools including DEIS band 1 schools by two pupils from September 2025. [21743/24]

At primary level, teachers are allocated to schools at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. DEIS Urban Band 1 schools receive an average allocation of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.

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 approximately €6.85 million in the first year and in excess of €20.5 million per annum after that. The estimated one-off capital cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level is circa €25-€35 million. This estimated cost is based on certain assumptions regarding the number of new teaching posts generated and available accommodation capacity.