asked the Minister for Education if her future plans for education include a worsening of the pupil/teacher ratio at primary school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pupil/Teacher Ratio.
67.
My Department have recently notified boards of management of national schools of revisions which have been made in the schedule of figures of pupil enrolments required for the appointment and retention of teachers in national schools from 1 January 1988.
I have arranged to make a copy of the relevant Circular 20/87 available in the Oireachtas Library.
I hope I am treating this House with sufficient respect, but the Minister has not answered my question. Question No. 67 asked the Minister for Education if her future plans for education include a worsening of the pupil/teacher ratio at primary school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. If it can be shown that she has grossly under-estimated the number of teaching jobs which will be lost following 1 January 1988, will she withdraw the circular? Would she not agree that the increasing of class sizes and the reduction in the number of teachers will, as she so often pointed out, have a bad effect on teaching at primary level? Will she tell the House if she is confident that the number of teachers she previously mentioned as being made redundant will be as she stated then?
I will not be withdrawing the circular which has issued and is Government policy. As regards the estimated number of teachers, yes, I am quite satisfied. I am aware that there appears to be a different estimate mentioned by the INTO, but I am glad to say to the Deputy and the House that I will be meeting with the INTO tomorrow and that this is one of the questions, among many others which we will be discussing.
I am calling Question No. 68.
While the Minister is catching her breath, may I——
I have called the next question.
Bearing in mind the 4 o'clock deadline I want to give you notice of my intention——
I would prefer the Deputy to wait until the Order of Business.