Vol. 537 No. 5
540 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of children and classes by category of class size at primary school in the school year 2000-01; and the likely impact on this distribution of the teacher allocations which he recently announced. [16673/01]
The information on the number of chil dren and classes, by category of class size, at primary school in the school year 2000-01 is not currently available.
The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule.
At primary level, 350 new teaching posts are being allocated for the 2001-02 school year. These posts were agreed under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. In addition, a further 45 posts which arose from the retention of the demographic dividend are also allocated for the 2001-02 school year. The allocation of these posts, some of which facilitated improvements in the staffing schedule for the 2001-02 school year will help to further reduce class sizes in primary schools.
