Vol. 513 No. 6
157 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has for the elimination of unsatisfactory pupil teacher ratios at primary and second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3350/00]
I would begin by drawing the Deputy's attention to the Government's major initiative of December last to provide 1,000 additional teachers to Irish schools. This will still further reduce the pupil teacher ratio at both primary and post primary levels.
The Deputy will be also be aware that a range of other initiatives was introduced in the past two years to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools. They include improvements in the staffing schedule for the appointment and retention of teachers and particularly reductions in the retention and appointment figures for one-teacher schools. Other initiatives include the allocation of additional posts towards specifically helping the educationally disadvantaged and the introduction of a maximum class size guideline of 30. These initiatives have helped to improve substantially the pupil teacher ratio. The current ratio at primary level is 20.4 : 1.
