Vol. 483 No. 2
152 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science the pupil to teacher ratio agreed by his Department for second level schools and particularly for County Meath; the current pupil to teacher ratio in all the second level schools in County Meath; the way in which they compare with the national average figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19999/97]
The pupil-teacher ratio for second level schools is 19:1. A number of EU funded programmes at second level attract a teacher allocation of 1.25 per group of 20 pupils. This equates to a PTR of 16:1.
Additional allocations are made in respect of posts such as principal, vice principal, remedial, resource, disadvantaged area and guidance where these may be granted on an ex-quota basis within current regulations. Taking the allocation of teaching posts for all daytime pupils into account, the average actual PTR for second level schools in County Meath is 16.6:1 compared with a national average of 15.8:1.
