Vol. 492 No. 1
255 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in urban areas, and the number of pupils on their rolls, which have the benefit of the lower pupil teacher ratio; and the number of additional teachers allocated to these schools under the scheme. [13473/98]
256 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in rural areas, and the number of pupils in them, which have the benefit of the breaking the cycle scheme; the number of additional teachers allocated to the schools; and the way in which these teachers are deployed. [13475/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the lower pupil teacher ratio made available to the junior classes of schools participating in the urban element of the breaking the cycle pilot project.
A total of 236 junior classes with an enrolment of 3,338 pupils are currently benefiting from the ratio in question. A total of 95 teaching posts have been allocated to facilitate the introduction of the reduced ratio in these schools.
A total of 123 schools are included in the rural element of the breaking the cycle initiative. The precise number of individual classes involved is not readily available to my Department. However, a total of 6,817 pupils are enrolled in the schools in question. The 123 rural schools are grouped into 25 clusters and each cluster is supported by a specially allocated locally based co-ordinator.
