Vol. 402 No. 3
145 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Education when adequate funding will be available to cut the sizes of primary school classes which is now reaching impossible proportions for young children to be taught, with particular reference to St. Teresa's Primary School, Mount Merrion, County Dublin, where there are 38 children in first class; and if she will outline her plans, both long and short term, to alleviate the situation.
The school authorities, in particular the principal teacher, are responsible for arranging the organisation of the school so as to ensure that no class group exceeds 39 in the case of a single-grade class group; 38 in the case of a class group with two consecutive grades and 35 in the case of a multi-grade class group.
My Department are satisfied that it is possible to organise the classes at St. Teresa's national school, Mount Merrion, for the current school year without breaching these guidelines. It should be noted that no class in this school is outside the maximum number of pupils allowed by the guidelines.
