Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:83 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the appropriate numbers of children a junior infants class should contain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12521/99]
Vol. 504 No. 6
83 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the appropriate numbers of children a junior infants class should contain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12521/99]
As a result of the improvements in the staffing schedule which I recently announced, all primary schools will operate to a maximum class average of 30 pupils in the 1999/2000 school year. This represents a major step forward in reducing class sizes, including junior infant classes, and I am committed to introducing further improvements over the next number of years.
84 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the staffing schedule in the primary level sector over the next few years; and if he will make a statement on the way in which he will proceed. [12522/99]
I have made a major improvement in primary school class sizes in respect of the school year 1999-2000. Under this new improved staffing schedule, all primary schools will operate to a maximum class average of 30 pupils which will dramatically cut the number of overcrowded classes in primary schools. I have not yet begun to address the staffing schedule changes for the next few years. In conjunction with the officials of my Department, I will monitor the impact of the 1999-2000 staffing schedule and seek ways to target additional resources to areas most in need.