asked the Minister for Education the number of (a) comprehensive, (b) community, (c) vocational and (d) voluntary secondary schools with metalwork and woodwork rooms; the number of pupils attending each such school; and the average number of hours per week such rooms are used for their relevant subjects.
Written Answers. - Metalwork and Woodwork Teaching.
364.
The information as requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department. Information is not furnished in the school records as to the extent of the utilisation of individual classrooms in the different types of school for the various subjects of the school curriculum. It is not, in the circumstances, possible to collate the information as requested.
365.
asked the Minister for Education the pupil teacher ratios in (i) vocational and (ii) voluntary secondary schools; and if a higher ratio is allowed in voluntary secondary schools situated in areas with no vocational school where practical subjects, such as metalwork and woodwork, are taught; and if not, why.
A pupil-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 is allowed in vocational schools and one of 19:1 in secondary schools. My Department is satisfied that the ratio applied to secondary schools is adequate to cope with circumstances such as those outlined by the Deputy. A departure from the approved ratio could not be allowed in such cases having regard to the provisions of general regulations for the staffing of secondary schools.