Vol. 403 No. 4
285 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 35 children in second and third class in St. Mary's national school, Virginia, County Cavan; her views on whether this situation is unsatisfactory; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware there is an agreement between the Government and the INTO regarding the staffing of national schools.
As part of this agreement my Department have implemented a reduction of one unit in the enrolment-staffing schedule for national schools from 1 September 1990. This agreement has led to an improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio in national schools for the 1990-91 school year.
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).
There is no class in breach of the Department's guidelines on maximum class size.
The enrolment in the school on 30 September 1990 was 196. Staff consists of a principal and five assistants, giving average class size approximately of 33.
The issue of class sizes in national schools will be reviewed in the context of ongoing discussions on the programme for economic and social development.
