Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the highest and lowest pupil-teacher ratios at primary level and the average in respect of post primary level schools throughout County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3294/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio at both primary and post primary level in recent years. The ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 primary school year to 17.44:1 in the 2003-04 school year while at post primary level the pupil-teacher ratio has been reduced from 16:1 to 13.6:1 in the same period. My Department will continue to provide further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio within available resources and subject to spending priorities within the education sector in line with Government policy. Priority will be given to pupils with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas. The information requested by the Deputy is not available.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the highest and lowest pupil-teacher ratios at primary level and the average for the county in respect of primary schools throughout County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3295/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not available. Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level in recent years. The ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.44:1 in the 2003-04 school year. Figures for the current school year are not available. My Department will continue to provide further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio within available resources and subject to spending priorities within the education sector in line with Government policy. Priority will be given to pupils with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas and junior classes.