Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Although I did not agree with Deputy Gogarty, I was nearly beginning to feel sorry for him. He was rounded on by members of the Labour Party and Fine Gael, yet we are led to believe these are the likely coalition partners of a future Government. It says a lot for the likely approach to education by the Opposition parties, among which there is obviously no coherence or cohesiveness.

Education has been prioritised by the Government. As a result of the huge increase in the budget provision for the Department of Education and Science, we have been able to increase the number of teachers in our schools, reduce class sizes, improve the quality of school buildings and greatly improve the services provided for children from disadvantaged areas and for those with special needs.

More than 4,000 additional posts have been created at primary level since 1997. In addition at post-primary level, an additional 1,225 posts have been created and more than 1,700 posts, which would otherwise have been retrenched due to a fall in enrolments, have been retained. As a result, the average class size at primary level has been reduced to 24 and the pupil teacher ratio at primary level has been reduced to 17.4:1, while at post-primary level the pupil teacher ratio has reduced to under 14:1.

The size of classes in individual schools is a matter, in the first instance, for the authorities of the school concerned. At primary level, the system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school have class sizes of greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use their teaching resources to have some smaller numbers in other classes. At post-primary level, class size depends on the particular subject, the number of pupils opting to take the subject and the level at which it is being taken.

Class sizes vary considerably across education programmes and subject areas. Class sizes are typically larger in the case of the core subjects of English, Irish and mathematics. Subject areas such as the sciences and modern European languages generally have average class sizes of less than the programme averages.

Subject provision, subject choices and class sizes are influenced by a combination of factors such as school size, timetabling decisions, teacher allocation, subject expertise and the length of the school day in addition to decisions made at individual school level on the basis of enrolments, ability levels of the pupils and programmes offered. While there has been an improvement in regard to class sizes, further improvements will be made in future in line with Government policy.

The poor record of the State in catering for the educational needs of special needs pupils in the past has been raised in this House and elsewhere. The Government has tackled this issue head on and our achievements in this area speak for themselves. Significant increases in teaching resources have been approved at primary level. There are currently more than 2,600 resource teachers and 1,500 learning support teachers in our primary schools. There are 1,000 teachers in special schools and 600 teachers in special classes. Nearly 6,000 special needs assistants are employed and significantly increased financial provision has been made for them for specialised equipment and materials.

Increased provision has also been made at post-primary level. In the current year provision is being made for 1,259 whole-time equivalent resource teachers and 628 special needs assistants. In the current school year, approximately 17,650 students with special educational needs are in receipt of resource teacher and-or special needs assistant service support. This compares with approximately 12,500 students in 2003-04, 6,000 students in 2002-03 and 3,500 students in 2001-02. In the 1997-98 school year, an estimated 1,600 students with special needs were being supported.

Significant additional funding has been allocated by my Department in respect of school transport in recent years. The cost of school transport has more than doubled since 1997, from €49.5 million to more than €116 million in the current year.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to cover the other issues with which I wished to deal. In recent years there has been a particular focus, as Members are aware, on the provision for pupils in disadvantaged areas.

The Government has every reason to be proud of its record in investing in new school buildings, as any Member who is considering the issue fairly would immediately admit. There is no escaping the reality that since coming into office, the Government has placed the highest priority——

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