Vol. 475 No. 4
210 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education whether she intends to reduce the retention level of pupils required to maintain existing levels of teachers in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4987/97]
In September 1997, this Government will have reduced the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools to 22 to 1 from a level of 25.2 to 1 when I took office as Minister for Education. The putting in place of a pupil-teacher ratio of 22 to 1 will enable me to retain posts to further enhance the quality of primary education through, for example, improving the staffing schedule.
However, final decisions have not yet been made regarding the allocation of posts in primary schools for the 1997-8 school year.
