Helen Keogh
Question:203 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education her views on the proposal of having a 20:1 pupil/teacher ratio for multigrade classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Pupil/Teacher Ratio.
I am fully committed to reducing the pupil/teacher ratio in national schools and indeed the ratio has been reduced significantly over the past number of years. The ratio is 24.2:1 and it is estimated that next year the figure will be 23.4:1. These improvements have been achieved through the retention of posts which would otherwise have been lost due to demographic decline.
The Government is committed to bringing the ratio to 22:1 by September 1996. I am not in a position to comment on the pupil/teacher ratio beyond that.