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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.

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]

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.

Under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness it is proposed to appoint an additional 550 primary teachers between the 2002-03 and 2003- 04 school years. The allocation of these posts and the 395 posts for the 2001-02 school year will help to further reduce class sizes in primary schools.
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