Richard Bruton
Question:501 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary pupils classified by the class size in which they are taught. [18390/00]
Written Answers. - Primary Pupil Statistics.
The information requested by the Deputy is given below. The data refers to pupils in ordinary classes in national schools for 1998-99, the most recent school year for which complete data is available to my Department in this regard.
|
Class Size |
0-19 |
20-24 |
25-29 |
30-34 |
35-39 |
40 and over |
Total |
|
Year |
|||||||
|
1998/99 |
44,957 |
89,482 |
139,492 |
124,644 |
36,925 |
1,235 |
436,735 |
|
10.3% |
20.5% |
31.9% |
28.5% |
8.5% |
0.3% |
100.0% |
|
|
1997/98 |
40,942 |
85,663 |
143,512 |
130,768 |
44,122 |
1,352 |
446,359 |
|
9.2% |
19.2% |
32.2% |
29.3% |
9.9% |
0.3% |
100.0% |
|
|
1996/97 |
35,611 |
83,556 |
146,422 |
138,315 |
50,289 |
1,901 |
456,094 |
|
7.8% |
18.3% |
32.1% |
30.3% |
11.0% |
0.4% |
100.0% |
|
|
1995/96 |
32,335 |
79,396 |
149,591 |
144,897 |
57,467 |
2,168 |
465,854 |
|
6.9% |
17.0% |
32.1% |
31.1% |
12.3% |
0.5% |
100.0% |
The Deputy will note the great increase in the number of smaller classes and the reduction in larger classes since 1995-96.
The Deputy will be aware that a range of new initiatives were introduced since this Government took office to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools. They include improvements in the staffing schedule for the appointment and retention of teachers. Other initiatives include the allocation of additional posts towards specifically helping the educationally disadvantaged and the introduction of a maximum class size guideline of 29 for schools designated as disadvantaged.
The staffing schedule for 1999-2000 was now structured to ensure that primary schools operate to a general maximum class size of 30 pupils.
The current pupil-teacher ratio at primary level is 20.4 : 1 compared to a PTR of 21.7 in the 1997-98 school year.