781. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a matter regarding secondary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41789/26]

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September.

At post primary level, teachers are currently allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector.

Any further improvement in the pupil teacher ratio would have to be considered as part of the annual budgetary process, alongside the many other demands from the education sector.