Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
229. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide primary and post-primary average class size figures for Ireland and other EU member states; his plans to tackle large class size concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34764/16]
View answer247. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider further improvements in the pupil-teacher ratio to help reduce the class size towards EU average in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34784/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 247 together.
Reducing class sizes has been a target of successive Governments. Budget 2016 provided for an improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools by one point, from 1 teacher for every 28 pupils to 1 teacher for every 27 pupils for the 2016/17 school year.
The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes and it is my intention to make further improvements to class sizes over the life of the Government.
Average class size and the ratio of teachers to students (PTR) are two important measures of the resources that we make available to schools. While our average class size at primary level is higher than the EU average, it is only slightly above the EU average in relation to the pupil-teacher ratio.
The latest statistics in relation to EU average class sizes refer to the 2013/2014 academic year and details are attached.
My focus in Budget 2017 was on obtaining additional funding to provide for demographic growth, additional resource teachers, curriculum reform and school leadership for our schools.
Budget 2017 sets out the resources available for schools for the 2017/18 school year. This Budget represents the start of a major reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade. The budget provides for over 2,400 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools next year. The 2017/18 school year will see a significant increase in teacher numbers (almost 4,700) in our schools compared to the 2015/16 school year.
Latest statistics in relation to EU average class sizes refer to the 2013/2014 academic year:
|
- |
Primary Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) |
Primary Average Class Size |
Post Primary (Pupil Teacher Ratio) PTR |
Post Primary Average Class Size |
|
Ireland |
16 |
24.8 |
14 |
Not available |
|
EU 22 average |
14 |
20 |
12 |
