asked the Minister for Education the full terms of the agreement reached with the INTO on the Government's proposal to increase class sizes at primary level; and if she will outline the way in which it differs from the Government's original proposals announced after the publication of the 1988 Estimates.
Written Answers. - Primary Level Class Sizes.
52.
The agreement in question has the following elements:
(1) A revised schedule for teacher appointments is to be implemented, involving on a cumulative basis an additional unit at each level of the existing (1982) schedule. This arrangement is allied to the fixing of maximum class sizes of 39 for single-grade class-groups, 38 for class-groups with two consecutive grades and 35 for multi-grade class-groups;
(2) Henceforth the staffing for the whole school year will be based on the number of pupils on roll in each school on 30 September of the preceding school-year;
(3) The rationalisation programme of amalgamating schools will be intensified in 1988;
(4) Existing arrangements in relation to staffing of schools currently designated as disadvantaged schools and in regard to the staffing of special schools will be maintained. There will be no reduction in the stock of remedial teachers;
(5) The normal arrangements that apply, year by year, to dealing with the problem of providing primary education in the developing areas will continue to operate;
(6) An improved staffing schedule will take effect from 1 September 1990. This schedule will involve, on a cumulative basis, a reduction by one unit at each level of the 1988-90 appointment schedule;
(7) Further reviews by the Government and the INTO will be held subsequently and will, in the light of prevailing circumstances, aim to improve the pupil-teacher ratio by retaining posts which would otherwise be lost as a result of falling enrolments. These measures differ from those announced in 1987 as follows:
(a) The appointment-retention schedule is being adjusted by a cumulative one unit, rather than three, at each level of the existing schedule;
(b) The effective date of this change is 1 September 1988, rather than 1 January 1988;
(c) From the 1988-89 school year onwards, staffing levels will be based on the enrolment on the preceding 30 September rather than on the average quarterly and annual enrolment figures used heretofore;
(d) The specific provision for non-teaching principal teachers is retained;
(e) There is agreement in relation to rationalisation of school provision and the approach to pupil-teacher ratio improvements in 1990 and subsequent years.