Michael Finucane
Question:13 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has examined the pupil-teacher ratio required in pre-school facilities compared to those in infant classes which appear to be widely apart. [15541/99]
Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
Currently, my Department's involvement in pre-school provision is largely confined to the early start pre-school pilot programme which is focused on areas of particular disadvantage. The 55 pre-school classes currently in place under this programme operate at a pupil teacher ratio of 15:1.
There is no specific pupil teacher ratio applicable to infant classes generally in the primary system. The overall pupil teacher ratio in primary schools currently stands at 21:2. This will be further reduced in the next school year arising from the substantial improvements in staffing levels which I recently announced.
A special reduced pupil teacher ratio of 15:1 is applicable to the junior classes of schools participating in the urban element of the breaking the cycle pilot scheme. Where necessary, additional staffing resources are made available to the schools in question to enable them to operate within this 15:1 ratio. Schools included in the urban element of the breaking the cycle pilot scheme, in common with all schools which have disadvantaged status, are also entitled to operate a maximum class size of 29:1 for classes generally.
In 1998 I convened a national forum on early childhood education. My objective in holding this forum was to allow all groups with an interest in this area to put forward their views as to how best to co-ordinate and support the future development of early childhood education services. The question of staff to child ratios was one of the issues addressed in the forum discussions.
My Department is now preparing a White Paper on early childhood education which will take account of the outcome of the forum. The White Paper will set out my proposals for future development of services in this area. The question of pupil teacher ratios for children in junior classes will be among the issues addressed in the White Paper.