Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
74. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the pupil-teacher ratio in private schools will be reduced to ensure equality between fee-paying and non-fee-paying schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29368/14]
View answerThe Government's focus in recent years has been on operating a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. One aspect of the budgetary decisions was to increase the pupil teacher ratio for fee-charging schools. This reflects the fact that fee-charging schools have resources, through fees charged, to employ teachers privately. Given that this is not an option that is available to schools in the free education scheme many would view this approach as more equitable than the approach suggested by the Deputy. The main priority for any additional resources for the foreseeable future will be to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system.
