Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 5

Written Answers. - Class Sizes.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

64 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if he will give details of the average class size for the school year 1991/92; the number of classes; and the numbers of classes containing over 30, over 35 and over 39 pupils in primary schools.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan):

The information required by the Deputy is given in tabular form underneath. To give a complete picture of the situation as regards class-size in national schools and to illustrate the improvement which has taken place in recent years, I have provided a size distribution of all ordinary national school classes for the 1990-91 and 1991-92 academic years.

Number and Percentage of National School Classes (Ordinary) by Class-Size and Average Class-Size for the Years Indicated*

Class-Size	1990/91 (%)	1991/92 (%)†
	8,153(46.4)	9,211(52.1)
31-35	5,829(33.2)	5,614(31.7)
36-39	3,127(17.8)	2,549(14.4)
>=40	467 ( 2.7)	309 ( 1.7)
Total Number of Classes	17,576	17,683
Total Number of Pupils	532,240	522,797
Average Class Size	30.3	29.6

*Excludes special classes for handicapped pupils.

†Data in respect of 1991-92 are provisional.

Note 1: Due to rounding, percentages may not total to 100.

Note 2: Classes in excess of 39 pupils are in breach of my Department's guidelines on maximum class size. The allocation of teaching posts to schools is sufficient to enable schools to remain within the guidelines.