Michael Creed
Question:548 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools which have more than 30 pupils per class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16698/01]
Vol. 537 No. 5
548 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools which have more than 30 pupils per class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16698/01]
The staffing schedule for primary schools is designed to ensure that schools will operate to a maximum class size of 30 pupils by reference to the enrolment of 30 September of the previous school year.
The organisation of classes and the allocation of class teachers within a school is a matter for the board of management. It is also a matter for the board to apply the general class size guidelines.
The data requested by the Deputy is not yet available for the current school year. According to data supplied by boards of management of primary schools, there were 3,075 classes of more than 30 pupils in the 1999-2000 school year compared to 3,987 classes in the 1998-99 school year.