633. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the staffing schedule at primary schools to ensure greater fairness and equity, especially for smaller schools, as no changes have been made to the existing staffing schedule in the primary school staffing allocations for the 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30954/26]

Priority was given in recent Budgets to reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level.   Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools have also been improved and now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.  The Programme for Government commits to make further progress in this area.

In 2015, teachers were allocated to primary schools at a general average of 28 pupils for every one teacher. In the same 10 year period, average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.9 to 22.2 and the pupil : teacher ratio shows the ratio of pupils to teachers improve from 16:1 to 12.8:1.

In addition to the reductions in the teacher allocation ratio, a three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

In the case of small schools, the schedule provides particularly favourable retention thresholds. For example, a small school may retain it's second mainstream teaching post with as few as 11 pupils, it's third post at 45 pupils, and it's fourth post at 75 pupils.