Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important issue this evening, which relates to two schools in my constituency of Dublin North-East. I call on the Minister for Education and Science to revisit urgently the decision to cut back one teacher each from St. Kevin's junior national school, Donaghmede and SS. Peter and Paul's boys' national school, Baldoyle. I have been informed by the principals of both schools that the number of pupils in each will increase from next September. How does the Minister expect the schools to cope with an increase in pupil numbers when simultaneously, staff numbers are to be reduced? The current crisis in the education system is an issue of national importance and I urge the Minister to reconsider these unnecessary cutbacks in teacher numbers.

Last month, the Fine Gael Party tabled a Private Members' motion to prevent 28 primary schools from losing teachers. I highlighted the plight of St. Kevin's junior national school, Donaghmede, and SS. Peter and Paul's boys' national school, Baldoyle, during the debate and appealed to the Minister for Education and Science to reconsider the preposterous decision to reduce staffing numbers in the aforementioned national schools. Unfortunately, the Minister ignored my plea and I beseech him once again to reinstate these teachers.

The Government has reneged on its promises to cut classroom sizes. In the programme for Government in 2002, it was stated that over the next five years maximum class guidelines would be introduced to ensure that the average class size for children under nine would be below the international best practice guideline of 20 to one. The Government pledged to reduce class sizes to one teacher for every 26 pupils by September 2008. However, these promises lie in shreds as the Minister for Education and Science recently instructed 28 primary schools to cut back a teacher.

St. Kevin's national school in Donaghmede will lose a teacher in the upcoming school year. The school will now consist of four classes, which will mean the amalgamation of the existing classes of junior infants into one class of 35. This class includes six children for whom English is not their first language, one child with special needs and children with mixed abilities. This is certainly an unworkable solution. To have 35 students in one room is outrageous, but to have students that are not fulfilling their own educational needs put in with children with special needs is completely unworkable for the teacher. We should be reducing class sizes rather than increasing them. The school also has a fully equipped classroom available, but this will remain unused because of the latest round of cutbacks. All we need is the reinstatement of one teacher.

The loss of a teacher in St. Peter and Paul's national school in Baldoyle will leave 29 junior infants in one class. This teacher would have facilitated an extra junior infants class, something which occurred before. It would enable the younger children to obtain a proper introduction to school life in a much smaller classroom setting. How can pupils receive a proper education if they are in a classroom of 29? In October 2007, the school predicted a slight decrease in pupil enrolment for the following year. However, this has changed and there will be an increase in students next September.

I ask the Minister of State to re-examine the proposed cutback in the school, which is totally unacceptable. There was a debate earlier today about unemployment. We must educate our young people if we want to ensure there are no greater increases in unemployment. The pupil-teacher ratio in Ireland is higher than the norm and the Government has failed the people by breaking promises made in its programme for Government. I appeal to the Minister and the Minister of State to look again at the proposal to sack 28 school teachers.

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