Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
77. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce class sizes and to build on the measures to reduce class sizes in Budget 2016; and if he will continue to reduce class sizes [18717/16]
View answerThe pupil teacher ratio in the current school year is 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils. Budget 2016 provides for a one point adjustment to the staffing allocation to primary schools, which will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. This will see the primary staffing schedule operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils. Lower thresholds apply for DEIS Band 1 schools, ranging from 20:1 to 24:1 depending on the type of school. Staffing arrangements for the 2016/17 school year are available in Circular 0007/2016, which is published on the Department website.
The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes at primary level. In the next Budget I will consider the best approach to further meeting commitments in the Programme for Government.
