Edward Nealon
Ceist:213 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education the plans she has for the reduction of class sizes in Rathcormac national school, County Sligo.
Written Answers. - Sligo Class Sizes.
Edward Nealon
Ceist:214 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the large numbers in classes (details supplied) in Rathcormac national school, County Sligo; her views on whether such large numbers will inevitably create difficulties for children and teachers; and if she proposes to take any action to alleviate the situation.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.
As the Deputy will be aware there is an agreement between the Government and the INTO regarding the staffing of national schools.
The board of management of this school have not applied for sanction to appoint an additional assistant teacher.
The staffing of national schools for a particular year is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous year. This is in accordance with the agreement between the Government and INTO under the Programme for National Recovery.
Under existing arrangements negotiated under the auspices of the Central Review Committee, school authorities, in particular the principal teacher, are responsible for arranging the organisation of the school so as to ensure that no class group exceeds the following guidelines set down by my Department: 39 in the case of a single grade class group; 38 in the case of a class group with two consecutive grades; and 35 in the case of a multi-grade class group. It is possible to organise Rathcormac national school to remain within these maximum class size guidelines.
The issue of class sizes in national schools will be reviewed in the context of ongoing discussions under theProgramme for National Recovery.