Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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3. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reduce all primary classes progressively in 2015-16. [22074/15]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Will the Minister reduce the size of all primary school classes progressively in 2015 to 2016? Does she accept that overcrowded classes are not good for children, education, teachers or generally for broader society? In a recent survey of teachers' stress and workload, 90% of teachers said that teaching has become more stressful, demanding, challenging and hectic. This is directly linked to the size of primary school classes in 2015.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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This question indicates the number of different pressures there are on the budget and the different issues being raised in the context of any increased funding we will have. My focus in budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. This funding is being used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, for our primary and post-primary schools in the coming school year. This comes on top of an extra approximately 2,300 teachers in our schools over the past two years.

The Deputy will be aware that I announced some improvements in the staffing schedule for small primary schools in February 2015. These are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015-16 school year.

It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio, PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers. In addressing the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, INTO, congress earlier this year, I made it clear that I personally believe that improving class sizes could deliver better outcomes, and that reducing class sizes will be a personal and political priority for me during 2015. However, that is a priority that will require negotiation in advance of the forthcoming budget.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I thank the Minister. I was at the INTO conference when she gave that commitment to make this a priority.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy certainly was there.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is very important. In her response to the question, the Minister touched on the issue of economic growth and development. As far as I am concerned, there is a strong link between class size and economic growth and development. This growth is also linked strongly to education. We have heard this morning, for example, that the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, expressed concerns, with respect to the positive economic growth figures next year, about overheating the economy. There is a debate - I am sure it takes place in Cabinet - as to whether we should have tax cuts or improved public services. I ask the Minister to ensure that as part of that debate, the focus should be put on public services. There is a solution to be found here in that we can assist primary school pupils in the State while preventing the economy from overheating. We should not just throw extra cash into the broader society. I welcome this morning's good growth figures but we have an opportunity to calm down. If we have any extra resources or moneys in the October budget, they should be spent on services.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am delighted to have Deputy McGrath's endorsement and support because I will argue for extra funding for education, and the support of colleagues in the House is very welcome in that respect.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is on the record now.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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We need to get the balance right between expenditure on areas like education and health, in particular, and whatever other measures will be taken in the budget. I will certainly be seeking extra funding. Addressing the pupil-teacher ratio as soon as we can, economically speaking, is something that should be done. Until now, I have only had enough money to be able to address some of the issues around smaller schools, as announced earlier in the year. As I have mentioned, this is a personal priority. We will have to measure demographic growth, which will take some of the extra money we will get for providing extra teachers and special needs assistants, etc. There will also be other budgetary demands, although this will be one of my priorities.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is important that the broader society generally knows of the importance of education because during the last number of difficult years, one of the arguments used for us to get out of this economic mess was the importance of education. That work has already started but it needs to be developed. It is very well to talk about class sizes but there is also the matter of educational disadvantage, with 138,000 children in the State living in poverty. That consistent poverty has increased from 6.8% in 2008 to 11.7%. Dr. Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children, has indicated we could have 37,000 children living in poverty in 2020, and there are 1,054 who are currently homeless. I am linking this to broader education. If there are warm, happy schools in disadvantaged areas, they can do much to deal with issues like poverty and economic and social disadvantage. For many children at risk, the most stable part of the day can be the five hours in a local primary school. People often miss that in serious issues like educational disadvantage or poverty in the modern society.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I agree with the Deputy and I see every day when I go into schools the particular importance of early years in school for children who come from homes where there may not be many books, or where parents do not have much time to engage with children. I agree with the Deputy, and that is one of the reasons I set up the early years inspection team for the educational element. That is why we are reviewing DEIS to ensure it is thoroughly effective. From what we know, it is producing good results but it has not been reviewed since 2006.

This is absolutely crucial to children in the primary school sector and particularly the early years of that sector. Involvement with parents is another matter that we must improve in whatever way we can. For example, the parent and student charter will assist in engaging parents more in the life of the school and children in school.