Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department's attention has been drawn to the fact that the average class size for 2003-04 was 23.9; if, in such circumstances her Department would review the requirement to have 29 additional pupils to obtain an additional classroom teacher and change this requirement to 23.9 to be in line with the average class size. [17921/05]

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will review the changes made three years ago where a 16-classroom school with 450 pupils had its pupil-teacher ratio reduced to 441; and if consideration will be given to provide further similar reductions at this time to assist the overall school number. [17924/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 433 together.

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.

The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. The staffing schedule for a particular school year is outlined in a circular which is issued to all primary schools. The circular in respect of the 2005-06 school year was issued recently.

The Deputy will be aware that significant improvements have been made in this area in recent years. The average class size at primary level is now 23.9, down from 26.6 in 1996-97. The pupil-teacher ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.44:1 in 2003-04. More than 4,000 additional teachers have been employed in our primary schools since 1997.

I recently announced that an additional 660 special needs teaching posts will be put in place from next September to facilitate the implementation of the new general allocation system of resource teaching support. In line with Government policy, the position will be further improved in the future 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.

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will provide a recommendation to a senior primary school (details supplied) receiving five classes of second class pupils from a junior primary school which has no teacher to teach one of these five classes as there are only four sixth classes leaving the school, in circumstances where the junior school involved is receiving five junior infant classes and does not have a teacher to release to the junior school. [17923/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule is outlined in primary circular 15/05 which issued to all primary schools recently. This is in line with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners.

In the current school year, the staffing of the junior primary school referred to by the Deputy comprises of a principal and 17 mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 480 pupils at 30 September 2003. The school also has a resource teaching post, a special class post and the services of a learning support post based in the school.

The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will consist of a principal and 17 mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 497 pupils at 30 September, 2004. In the current school year the staffing of the senior primary school in question comprises of a principal and 16 mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 455 pupils at 30 September 2003. The school also has a resource teaching post, and a learning support post. The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will consist of a principal and 16 mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 454 pupils at 30 September 2004.

The schedule referred to can only be deviated from when a school experiences rapid growth in its enrolment. In the case of a school with an enrolment of 299 or more pupils, rapid growth is defined as an increase in its enrolment in one year relative to the previous year of 30 pupils plus a stipulated excess of ten pupils on the appointment figure. If the board of management of the school feels that the enrolment of the school will increase by this amount, it may apply for a post under the developing schools criteria as outlined in Department circular 15/05.

To ensure openness and transparency in the system an independent appeals board is now in place to decide on any appeals. The criteria under which an appeal can be made are set out in Department primary circular 19/02 which is also available on my Department's website. The appeals board will meet in June, July and October to consider appeals on the mainstream teaching allocation to schools for the 2005-06 school year. The closing dates for appeals are 3 June, 24 June and 7 October. Appeals must be submitted to primary payments section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, on the standard application form, clearly stating the criterion under which the appeal is being made. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent appeals board.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of man days lost in sick leave, the rate per person employed, and the percentage of total man hours lost in this way in primary education, second level education and third level. [17926/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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According to the payroll records held by my Department in respect of 26,393 teachers employed in primary schools, 212,584 days of sick leave occurred in the calendar year 2004. This represents an average rate of sick leave of 8.05 days per teacher in 2004 and, in annual percentage terms, 2.2% overall. Payroll records held in respect of 17,206 teachers employed in voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive schools indicate that a total of 132,693 days of sick leave occurred in the calendar year 2004. This represents an average rate of sick leave of 7.7 days per teacher in 2004 and, in annual percentage terms, 2.1% overall.

Vocational education committees and third level institutions are autonomous bodies and the issue of the number of days lost due to sick leave is a matter for each committee and higher education institution. I have no role in these internal administrative matters.