Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 796: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to bring pupil-teacher ratios into line with best practice in other EU jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20058/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 798: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the improvement of pupil-teacher ratios in all primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20060/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 796 and 798 together.

Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio and average class size 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, which includes all teachers including resource teachers, 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.

In allocating teaching posts, regard has been had to the commitments of the Government to reduce class size, tackle educational disadvantage and provide additional resources for pupils with special educational needs. The additional teaching posts created since 1997 have been deployed to address all of these priorities. The Deputy will be aware that a review of the allocation system of teaching support for pupils with special educational needs was recently completed. Arising from the review, a new model has been introduced to replace that which was notified to schools in June 2004. The introduction of the new system will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 permanent posts in primary schools from September next. A further 320 posts are being provided on a temporary basis to facilitate the transition to the new system and to ensure continuity of service for children who have previously been given an individual allocation until those children leave the primary school system.

The new system will greatly benefit schools and the children in schools who need additional support. The Deputy will also be aware of the new action plan for educational inclusion, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, which I launched recently. The action plan will result in reduced class sizes in schools serving the most disadvantaged communities to 24:1 at senior level and 20:1 at junior level. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 797: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the improvement of pupil-teacher ratios in all second level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20059/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio at post primary level in recent years. The ratio has fallen from 16:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 13.6:1 in the 2003-04 school year. In line with Government policy, my Department will continue to provide further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio within available resources and subject to spending priorities within the education sector. Priority will be given to pupils with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 799: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a review has taken place regarding pupil-teacher ratio class sizes at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20070/05]

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 teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes. The Deputy should note 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, which includes all teachers in a school including resource teachers, 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. These additional teaching posts have been used to reduce class sizes, tackle educational disadvantage and provide additional resources for children with special needs. The only deviation from the agreed staffing arrangements is in the case of schools classified as "developing schools". The conditions for obtaining a post as a developing school are outlined in Primary Circular 15/05, a copy of which issued to the board of management of each school.

In the current school year the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises a principal and 21 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 591 pupils at 30 September 2003. In addition, the school has two learning support teachers, two special class teachers, two full time resource teachers, one shared resource teacher and one temporary language support teacher. In accordance with the staffing schedule which issued recently to boards of management, the mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will remain a principal and 21 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 588 pupils at 30 September, 2004. 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 July to consider appeals on the mainstream teaching allocation to schools for the 2005-06 school year. The closing date for appeals is 24 June 2005. 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. The application form is available from the primary payments section or on my Department's website.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent appeals board.