Vol. 403 No. 4
65 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the staffing level is satisfactory at Adare girls' national school, County Limerick as extreme concern has been voiced at the excessive size of class numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The board of management of Adare girls' national school have not been in contact with my Department regarding the excessive size of class numbers referred to by the Deputy.
As the Deputy will be aware there is an agreement between the Government and the INTO regarding the staffing of national schools.
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); 35 (in the case of a multi-grade class-group).
The enrolment at the school on 30 September 1990 was 133. Staffing consists of a principal and three assistant teachers, together with a shared remedial teacher, and average class size is approximately 33.
There is no class in breach of the Department's guidelines on maximum class size.
The issue of class sizes in national schools will be reviewed in the context of ongoing discussions under the Programme for Economic and Social Development.
