Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (195)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to be in a position to ameliorate the impact of the economic situation on the primary education sector with particular reference to class sizes and maintenance of the optimum number of teachers in areas where schools are only marginally short of qualification for an extra teacher on the basis of enrolments in the previous year and keeping in mind the need to cater for children with special needs and the multiplicity of language backgrounds from a large sector of pupils in individual schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53978/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

At this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2013/14 school year. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the next budget. The Government will endeavour to protect frontline education services as best as possible. However, this must be done within the context of bringing our overall public expenditure into line with what we can afford as a country. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that can be provided are used to maximum effect to achieve the best possible outcome for pupils.