Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to improve the pupil-teacher ratio at primary and second level schools throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7993/05]

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 levels in recent years. At primary level, the ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.44:1 in the 2003-04 school year. At post-primary level, the pupil teacher ratio has been reduced from 16:1 to 13.6:1 in the same period.

In line with Government policy, 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. Priority will be given to pupils with special needs, those from disadvantaged areas and those in junior classes.