Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she has taken to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools following the programme for Government of 2002; the average pupil-teacher ratio for primary schools at that time; the pupil-teacher ratio now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11314/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should note that significant steps have been made in this area in recent years. The pupil-teacher ratio, which includes all the teachers in the school, including resource teachers, has fallen from 18:1 in the 2002-03 school year to a projected 17.4:1 in the current school year.

More than 4,000 additional teachers have been employed in our primary schools since 1997 when the pupil-teacher ratio was 22.2:1. These additional teaching posts have been used to reduce class sizes, tackle educational disadvantage and provide additional resources for children with special needs.

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.