Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1445. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding pupil-teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34861/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised by the Deputy is about seeking a reduction in the pupil teacher ratio for fee-charging Protestant secondary schools. The Government's focus in recent years has been on operating a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis.
One aspect of the budgetary decisions was to increase the pupil teacher ratio for fee-charging schools. Fee-charging schools have the resources, through fees charged, to employ teachers privately, an option which is not available to schools in the free education scheme.
Given the current budgetary environment there is no scope in the short term to consider improvements to pupil teacher allocation ratios. My Department's focus for the foreseeable future is on targeting any additional resources to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system.
