41. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has prepared a phased implementation plan to further reduce pupil teacher ratios over the lifetime of the current Government; if so, the milestones and timelines contained within that plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54042/26]

59. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to prioritising reductions in pupil teacher ratios for DEIS schools, schools with special classes, or schools experiencing sustained enrolment growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54043/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 59 together.

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.

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.

The Programme for Government commits to make further progress in this area with an aim to reduce the general pupil:teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of government which will be considered as part of the annual budgetary process.