Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 1

Written Answers. - National School Attendance Projections.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

51 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education her projections for the numbers attending national schools for each of the next four academic years; and the implications of this reduction for teacher numbers and the viability of individual schools.

Brendan McGahon

Question:

74 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Education her projections for the numbers attending national schools for each of the next four academic years; and the implications of this reduction for teacher numbers and the viability of individual schools.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

91 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education her projections for the numbers attending national schools for each of the next four academic years; and the implications of this reduction for teacher numbers and the viability of individual schools.

Patrick D. Harte

Question:

103 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Education her projections for the numbers attending national schools for each of the next four academic years; and the implications of this reduction for teacher numbers and the viability of individual schools.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

107 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Education her projections for the numbers attending national schools for each of the next four academic years; and the implications of this reduction for teacher numbers and the viability of individual schools.

John Bruton

Question:

237 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education her projections for the numbers attending national schools for each of the next four academic years; and the implications of this reduction for teacher numbers and the viability of individual schools.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 74, 91, 103, 107 and 237 together.

The projected enrolments for national schools over the next four school years are as follows:—

School Year	Enrolment (thousands)
1993/4	503.7
1994/5	487.6
1995/6	473.4
1996/7	462.6

The Programme for a Partnership Government provides that the PTR be reduced to 22:1 by 1996. The effect of the projected enrolments on teacher numbers will be examined on an annual basis by my Department in the context of the commitments relating to the PTR and to maximum class sizes.

The viability and optimum size of schools is becoming an increasingly important issue in view of demographic trends and widening curricula and the desirability of providing remedial and other specialist support services for rural schools. The issue was discussed in the Green Paper "Education for a Changing World" and the implications of demographic trends and the needs of pupils, schools and communities will continue to be taken into account, in the continuing planning process.