Department ‘prepared’ for anticipated surge in pupil numbers

The Department of Education says it is prepared for the anticipated surge in pupil numbers which could require thousands of teachers, classrooms and new schools over the next decade.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures suggest a possible rise of 50,000 in the number of primary school-aged children in just five years, and an increase of 100,000 over 2011 figures by 2021. The numbers in the 13 to 18 age bracket could rise by up to 60,000 by 2021, and by as much as 117,000 by 2026 — a one-third increase.

An estimated 4,500 teachers are already expected to be needed to meet these increases at second-level alone in the next decade if Education Minister Rúairí Quinn or his successors do not increase pupil-teacher ratios further. The rises will also see tens of millions of euro a year more needed for grants, given to schools for their day-to-day budgets.