Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 884: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans she has for the reduction of school classes in primary schools in line with the commitment in the programme for Government; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the average primary school class in Galway city is currently 25:1 while many schools and classes with 30 or more children; if she will make a statement on her intention and the progress so far in the reduction of class sizes and particularly the reduction of class sizes in Galway city primary schools; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in County Galway has four senior classes with more than 30 children in each class and junior classes with 30 children; and the steps she will take to rectify this situation. [10359/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule agreed between my Department and the education partners. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school have class sizes of greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use their teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

Since 1997, the Government has dramatically increased the number of teachers in primary schools. In that time, more than 4,000 additional teachers, including nearly 2,500 resource teachers, have been employed. These additional teaching posts have been used to reduce class size, tackle educational disadvantage and provide additional resources for children with special needs. Average class size has been reduced from 26.6 in 1996-97 to 23.9 in 2003-04. With regard to primary schools in Galway city, I am pleased to say that the average class size in the 2003-04 school year was 23. In fact, the number of pupils in classes of more than 30 in Galway city halved between 1996-97 and 2003-04. In accordance with the staffing schedule, the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and 11 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 310 pupils on 30 September 2003. In addition, the school has the services of a learning support teacher and a resource teacher. My Department will finalise the staffing schedule for the 2005-06 school year shortly and thereafter notify school boards of management.

According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management of the school, the enrolment on 30 September 2004 was 312 pupils. The staffing for the 2005-06 school year will be determined on the basis of this figure and in accordance with the agreed staffing schedule.

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. In line with Government policy, my Department will continue to provide further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio and average class size for junior classes 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.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 885: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will appoint an extra full-time classroom teacher and special needs assistant to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10360/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule agreed between my Department and the education partners. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school have class sizes of greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use their teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

In accordance with the staffing schedule, the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and two mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 65 pupils on 30 September 2003. In addition the school has the services of a learning support teacher and two resource teachers. My Department will finalise the staffing schedule for the 2005-06 school year shortly and thereafter notify school boards of management.

According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management, the enrolment on 30 September 2004 in the school was 73 pupils. The staffing for the 2005-06 school year will be determined on the basis of this figure and in accordance with the agreed staffing schedule.

The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports.

A total of 71 special educational needs organisers have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents. My Department officials have been informed by the NCSE that there is no application for a special needs assistant from the school in question. It is open to the school to contact the special educational needs organiser directly regarding the appointment of a special needs assistant.