I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 195, 196, 200, 205, 207 and 214 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, an agreement is in existence between the Government and the INTO regarding the staffing of national schools.
As agreed with the Central Review Committee under the Programme for National Recovery my Department has implemented a reduction of 1 unit in the enrolment/staffing schedule for national schools from 1 September 1990. This agreement has led to an improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio in all national schools for the 1990-91 school year.
Under existing arrangements negotiated under the auspices of the Central Review Committee, 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 the following guidelines set down by my Department: 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).
If a school is unable to organise its total enrolment to remain within these guidelines my Department is prepared to examine the question of sanctioning the appointment of an additional teacher to enable it to do so.
The issue of class sizes in national schools will be reviewed in the context of ongoing discussions under the Programme for National Recovery.