14. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education her plans to reduce the pupil teacher ratio to 19:1 in the lifetime of this Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8312/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I ask the Minister to outline her plans to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio to 19:1 over the lifetime of the Government. It is an important question. As the Minister knows, a lot more work is feasible in a classroom if a teacher has a smaller number of pupils.

Sentiment score: 0.09

I thank the Minister and appreciate her response. I want to work with the Minister and Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan. Ultimately, the Department is trying to benefit students. The most important people across the country are those who need a good education and start in life. We have serious issues when it comes to the number of teachers in our classrooms. That is firsthand knowledge. This issue ranges across not just the Department of Education, but other Departments. One of the biggest issues for teachers is housing, followed by the cost of childcare and cost of living. I know that goes outside of the Minister's Department, but the lack of affordable accommodation and childcare are real concerns for many teachers. We do not have the necessary school accommodation. Last week, the Minister outlined to me the amount of money that has been spent since 2020, but the reality is that we still do not have that accommodation. Classes across the country are being taught in prefabs. I ask the Minister to investigate the number of prefabs that are being used and the level of additional accommodation that is necessary in schools in order to move forward with the reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio.

Sentiment score: 0.11

I am very glad that the Minister said she is committed to increasing the supply of teachers. That is important. In 2024, the Teachers' Union of Ireland, TUI, completed a survey of new entrants to the profession. Some 35% responded and said that over recent years they did not receive a contract for full hours when they entered the profession. Some 12% said it is extremely difficult to get a full contract. When entering the teaching profession, I found that getting a full-time contract was difficult. There are maternity leave contracts or 12 or 13 hours of teaching time at second level, when a full-time contract is 22 hours. We are having difficulty in respect of contracts. Some of my colleagues and schoolmates who have graduated have moved overseas. I do not know whether what I propose is possible under the Minister's remit; I hope it is. We should recognise overseas teaching experience in terms of incremental teaching experience in this country. I refer, for example, to a teacher who taught for five years abroad being added to that incremental scale.

Sentiment score: 0.05