Vol. 487 No. 2
19 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfied that many classes are well above the national maximum class size guidelines; the number of schools to which extra teachers from his Department have been allocated in view of the fact that they are unable to organise their classes within the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3636/98]
69 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfied that many classes are well above the national maximum class size guidelines; the number of schools to which extra teachers from his Department have been allocated in view of the fact that they are unable to organise their classes within the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3637/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 69 together.
While the allocation of teachers to classes is, of course, the responsibility of the school principal and board of management, maximum class size guidelines aim to ensure that schools do not have excessively large classes. Information available from statistical returns submitted to my Department by primary schools suggests that there are classes in breach of maximum class guidelines. I should also point out to the Deputy that very many schools have classes which are much smaller than the maxima. It is important to emphasise, however, that, where maximum class size guidelines are breached in a particular class or classes in a school, this decision is often taken within the school to facilitate much smaller classes elsewhere in the same school. Where schools are unable to organise their classes within the recommended maxima, they may apply to my Department for the appointment of an additional teacher. In the current school year, a total of 44 schools received additional staffing for this purpose.
While detailed information in relation to class sizes in individual second level schools is not provided to my Department, the Deputy will be aware that significant improvements have occurred in the pupil-teacher ratio in recent years and this has undoubtedly been a factor in diminishing average class sizes. Despite this programme of sustained improvement, I have no doubt that some classes at second level are larger than we would wish. This is one of the issues taken into account by my Department when considering appeals from individual school authorities for increased teacher allocations.
