Vol. 552 No. 1
755 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reduce the pupil-teacher ratio, for the retention of main stream teachers in national schools in disadvantaged areas, to the same level that applies to Gaelscoileanna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11566/02]
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, which is reviewed annually following discussions with the education partners. The staffing arrangements for the 2002-03 school year have been finalised and details of changes to the staffing schedule were notified to boards of management of primary schools recently. The proposal made by the Deputy would have to be considered in the context of discussions on staffing arrangements for mainstream schools for the 2003-04 school year which would be expected to commence in December 2002.
The Deputy may already be aware that schools included in the urban dimension of Breaking the Cycle benefit from a maximum class size of 15:1 in their junior classes. The Deputy may also be aware that I launched the new disadvantage programme, Giving Children An Even Break, in January 2001 to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The programme will run over a three year period and will cost some €33 million. Giving Children An Even Break involves the creation of more than 200 new primary teaching posts and the allocation of cash grants to 2,143 primary schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils.
