Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 October 2014
165. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the concerns raised by a member of Irish National Teachers' Organisation (details supplied) regarding class sizes and conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40562/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. My main priority for any additional resources for the foreseeable future will be to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system. We have a growing population of young people in this country and despite the difficult financial circumstances we face as a country, we prioritised education so that the number of teachers we have in the system has also grown in order to protect existing pupil teacher ratios. There were a thousand more teachers employed in schools around the country in the last school year, than the year before. There will be a further increase of circa 1,300 teachers in the current school year.
At primary level the staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The national average class size at primary level is 24.7 pupils. However, with over 21,100 classes in over 3,100 primary schools throughout the country there will always be variations in class sizes at individual school level. My Department's guidance to local school management is that such variations should be kept to the minimum.
