Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010
119 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills in view of the recent figures published by her Department which show that 106,000 children remain in classes of 30 or more, the action she will take on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33608/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Statistics Section of my Department's website contains information relating to class size in primary schools for the 2009-2010 school year. The information includes the number of pupils in each class and the number of pupils in each class size range.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department for the current school year is the pupil enrolment at 30 September 2009. While the staffing schedule allocates on the basis of an average number of pupils each individual school decides on how to arrange its classes.
Pupil numbers at both primary and post-primary level continue to increase and this results in an increased requirement for additional teachers for the foreseeable future. Notwithstanding the difficult budgetary climate the Government has tried, as best as possible, to protect the front line services in the education sector through continuing to allow schools to recruit additional teachers notwithstanding the general moratorium on public sector recruitment. The Deputy will be aware that the renewed Programme for Government commits the Government to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio in primary and second level schools for the lifetime of this Government and also the provision of 500 additional teaching posts between primary and second levels over a three year period.
