Vol. 502 No. 3
84 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he proposes to improve pupil-teacher ratios in the current year with particular reference to the needs of those schools which have an undesirable pupil-teacher ratio; the number of these schools; the number of teachers to be deployed to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7803/99]
This Government has already reduced the pupil-teacher ratio in both primary and second level schools.
While the pupil-teacher ratio serves a very useful function of indicating the relationship at national level between pupil numbers and teacher numbers, it does not accurately reflect the position in many classrooms. While there are schools which have a pupil-teacher ratio which is lower than the national average, there are schools with a ratio higher than the national average. Unfortunately, the number of such latter schools is not readily available. The pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools now stands at 21:2.
The pupil-teacher ratio at second level has improved due to the allocation of additional ex-quota and concessionary posts and the application of a reduced ratio in respect of a range of new programmes which have been introduced in second level schools. The Deputy will also be aware of my recent significant initiative which introduced a retention ratio of 18:1 in relation to schools with over quota full-time teachers who might otherwise be redeployed. This, coupled with the provision of a remedial entitlement to all second level schools, and the extension of the home school liaison scheme will have a considerable and sustained impact on the pupil teacher ratio at second level.
From the start of the 1999-2000 school year, in addition to retaining the demographic dividend and reducing class sizes in primary schools, and introducing a retention ratio at second level for over quota full-time teachers, the Government has sanctioned the creation of a further 600 new posts across both sectors. These measures will result in a further substantial reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio. This is the first significant increase in teacher staffing for many years.
