Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

My next question is on the pupil-teacher ratio. I am not being parochial but to give an example, in Scoil Íde Catholic primary school in Clondalkin the number of pupils has changed slightly since last September, which means it will lose a teacher next September. The Minister can understand that in September schools will be under serious pressure because of the ongoing public health emergency with regard to physical distancing. In this situation, some of the classes will have gone from the recommended 26 pupils per teacher to 35 pupils per teacher. This will not be possible in September. There needs to be more teachers and resources and not fewer in September. Will the Minister make a commitment that there will be no reduction in teachers in September, particularly given the situation over the past six months, which has been traumatic for teachers and pupils? There should be more resources and not fewer in September.

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