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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 6

Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

134 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 20 April 2000 in relation to Holy Child boys national school, Dublin 9, an inspector has been in touch with the school as promised; the outcome of such inquiries; and if he is now in a position to provide assistance to this school in dealing with a very large class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17882/00]

I can confirm that an inspector has been in touch with the school with regard to class sizes. The inspector has confirmed that the school's fourth class consists of 37 pupils in the current school year. However, it has also emerged that other classes in the school have much smaller numbers of pupils, including one class consisting of 23 pupils. In the circumstances, I regret that there is no basis whereby additional teaching posts can be sanctioned for this school.

The Deputy may be aware that the improvements in the staffing schedule last year were introduced to significantly reduce the number of large classes in primary schools. Teacher allocations were granted specifically to ensure that all schools would operate to a maximum class size of 30 pupils. The organisation of classes within the school is a matter for the school authorities, who are expected to take whatever steps are necessary to meet the 30 pupil objective.

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