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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 1978

Vol. 307 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Primary School Classes .

16.

asked the Minister for Education the result of the special inquiries initiated by him into large classes in primary schools, in response to Question No. 561 of 15 November 1977; and if he will make a further statement on the matter.

: Following the identification of the schools with oversized classes, inspectors from the Department had consultations with the principal teachers of the schools in question with a view to achieving a better organisation of classes in those schools. The position is being kept under observation to ensure that oversized classes are eliminated as soon as practicable.

: Has the Minister any information about the geographic distribution of the schools with over-large classes? Are they concentrated in the cities, in rural areas, in provincial towns, or any particular area?

: For the most part they would be in urban areas but not central urban areas. There are cases also in rural areas, but for the most part, suburban areas are affected worst.

: Is the Minister saying that the purpose of this review has been to reduce class sizes without the appointment of additional teachers in particular cases?

: The Minister is not saying that at all. In fact, he took steps in the opposite direction. For example, as from July of this year, whereas it would take 590 to have 15 assistants in a school I have reduced the number to 550; for a sixteenth assistant in a large school whereas hitherto it would have taken 630 I have sanctioned 585. I think the Deputy is aware that we are reducing large classes on 1 July in some instances and on 1 January 1979 in other instances in accordance with that type of scale.

: Time will tell.

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