Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 22: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she proposes through the school building programme to accommodate a lower pupil-teacher ratio in the classroom; if she will ensure that all schools in respect of which she has received requests from the school authorities for such accommodation will be favourably considered given both the need to meet the accommodation requirements and the economic needs at this particular time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47380/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she proposes, through the school building programme, to accommodate a lower pupil to teacher ratio in the classroom; if she will ensure that all schools in respect of which she has received requests from the school authorities for such accommodation in County Kildare will be favourably considered given both the need to meet the accommodation requirements and the economic needs at this particular time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47110/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 48 together.

Any school experiencing an immediate deficit in accommodation, for whatever reason, may apply for capital funding to my Department for additional accommodation. The assessment process will, inter alia, take account of existing accommodation in the school.

The standard area of classrooms at primary and post primary levels have remained the same for classrooms constructed in recent years. This allows plenty of space for the range of activities carried out under the modern school curriculum.

These class areas applied before the pupil teacher ratio was reduced and they served the needs of schools in terms of delivering the curriculum. Therefore, it is not my intention to revise them in light of adjustments in the pupil teacher ratio introduced in recent years.