andMr. Cooney asked the Minister for Education the number of schools closed in County Westmeath due to amalgamation.
33.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Longford-Westmeath Schools.
32.
andMr. Cooney asked the Minister for Education the number of schools closed in county Longford due to amalgamation.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together.
The following is the information requested by the Deputies: County Westmeath, 20; County Longford, 21.
34.
andMr. Cooney asked the Minister for Education the average ratio of pupils per teacher in (a) County Westmeath and (b) County Longford.
The average ratio of pupils per teacher in national schools for the school-year 1970-71 was (a) 31 in County Westmeath, and (b) 30 in County Longford.
Let me put it to the Minister that the only reason why the ratio for County Westmeath is 31 is that there must be a large number of small rural schools; that the position in Athlone Town is critical, that there is no class with fewer than 40 pupils and that in the infant school every class has an excess of 50 pupils; and that there is a great need for extra accommodation for these unreasonably large classes in the infant school, so much so that the headmistress will have to hire a local dancehall to take pupils for the coming year.
If that were the point of the Deputy's question, he ought to have put down a question on that specific matter. What he asked me was what was the average ratio of pupils per teacher and the average ratio shows up well.
I am pointing out that the average ratio in this case gives a distorted picture in not showing the reality of the situation. I am telling the Minister why it is distorted.