Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-16
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Hildegarde Naughton (FG), Galway West

Where we can, we give guidance and I know schools are very well aware of this. They do this well themselves so that where possible, the more junior classes would have a lower class size. Where there are higher numbers in some classes in many schools, one will find other classes within the school that would have lower numbers to accommodate for that earlier, so that the junior classes would have lower class sizes where possible but I hear the concerns highlighted by the Deputy.
I am very aware of our commitment in the programme for Government on this. Prior to 2016, teachers were allocated to primary schools at a general average of 28 pupils for every one teacher. In budget 2016, we improved that ratio by one point at 27:1. In budget 2018, we further improved it by one point to 26:1 and in 2021, we improved it by a further point to 25:1. In addition, there has been a three-point reduction in the retention schedule and that schedule assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts, so this measure helps to better ensure teacher retention in primary schools while also ensuring that fewer pupils are required to retain or to recruit a teacher.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:17+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-16