asked the Minister for Education if the increased output from the training colleges as compared with replacement requirements, which was expected to come into effect over a year ago, has improved the teacher-pupil ratio.
20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teacher-Pupil Ratio.
19.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the present position regarding the reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools, the extension and improvement of facilities for remedial teaching, the extension of training for national teachers to three years and the effects of such an extension on the availability of new teachers; and the progress that has been made in the last 18 months in these matters.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
The improvements made in the teacher-pupil ratio in 1973-74 and 1974-75 are specified in the statement circulated with the Official Report of 15th May, 1975, Vol. 280, No. 12, cols. 2123/2124. In 1974-75 also 150 new posts were created for remedial teachers in selected schools and for teachers of special classes of slow learners in particular schools.
The three-year course of training was introduced in 1974. In anticipation of the fact that no trained teachers, except for a comparatively small number of graduate trainees, would be coming from the recognised training colleges in 1976, extra students over and above normal requirements were admitted to training in 1973. Thus it was possible to take measures this year which will result in meeting requirements in 1976. I am accordingly satisfied that while it will not be possible to effect any further improvement in pupil-teacher ratio an adequate supply of qualified teachers will be available to fill all posts arising in the 1976-77 school year.
I do not have the volume referred to in front of me at the moment, but is it not true that there is considerable discontent on the part of teachers and parents about the pupil-teacher ratio, especially in the Dublin area? Is it not also true that the Minister and the Government undertook to improve this position during their term of office?
I am aware that there is discontent but I am not aware that we committed ourselves to the point made in the latter part of the Deputy's supplementary question.
Would the Minister agree that the improvements in the pupil-teacher ratio made in 1973-74 and 1974-75 were the result of the efforts made by the previous Administration? Would he also agree that part of the 1,100 teachers who came out this year were intended to improve the pupil-teacher ratio? What steps is he taking to improve the pupil-teacher ratio?
I have already answered this question on a previous occasion. When I have formulated plans for the improvement of the pupil-teacher ratio I will make them available to the Dáil.
Is the Minister aware that this Government have done nothing to improve the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools? This is a disgrace. The efforts made by the previous Administration were derided by the then Opposition because they were not——
The Deputy is making a statement. Deputy Wilson.
——sufficiently accurate, according to the Opposition.
Is the Minister answering Deputy Faulkner?
I will answer all supplementaries together.
In coming to the conclusion that there will be enough trained teachers next year, does the Minister include in his teaching force the 65-year-old-plus category which he has forbidden to teach this year?
In reply to the first supplementary, the improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio from July, 1973—which, incidentally, was the first improvement since the 1st July, 1969, involved the creation of 380 posts and that which became effective from 1st July, 1974, 200 posts, plus a total of 150 new remedial teacher posts, a total of 730 additional teaching posts. I will not quibble with the Deputies opposite as to who is responsible for this: I am just glad that it happened during my period of office. In regard to the question put to me by Deputy Wilson, I would prefer to make an announcement about that specific matter at a later stage.
Surely the Minister has asked his officials to calculate now what the teacher requirements will be for 1976-77 and, having done the sum himself, has he not calculated how many of the 65-plus will be back?
I will make an announcement about that in the near future.
I do not quibble with the Minister but I would like to stress that the previous Administration——
This is Question Time.
Would the Minister put Deputy Desmond at his ease by stating that he will have more teachers and more classroom accommodation ready in the Dublin area——
I have told the Deputy that I would prefer to make a statement at a date in the near future.
The Labour Party Conference will be held soon.