Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to improve class size at schools (details supplied) in Dublin 3 and 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31052/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio and in average class size in recent years at primary level. The most recent figure available for average class size at primary level refers to the 2003-04 school year, when the average class size was 23.9, down from 26.6 in 1996-97. The pupil teacher ratio at primary level, which includes all the teachers including resource teachers, has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.1:1 — projected — in 2004-05.

Over 4,500 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 to 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.

In relation to providing for children with special educational needs, there are now over 5,000 teachers in our primary schools working directly with children with special needs, including those requiring learning support. This compares with fewer than 1,500 in 1998. Indeed, one out of every five primary school teachers is now working specifically with children with special needs.

The Deputy will be aware of the new action plan for educational inclusion, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, which I launched recently. This action plan will result in the reduction in class sizes of 24:1 at senior level and 20:1 at junior level in 150 primary schools serving communities with the highest concentrations of disadvantage.

The staffing of the first school referred to by the Deputy for the 2005-06 school year is a principal, 12 mainstream class teachers, two permanent learning support or resource teachers and one temporary learning support or resource teacher. Based on an enrolment of 348 pupils on 30 September 2005 and 12 mainstream class teachers, the average class size is 29:1. The staffing of the second school referred to by the Deputy for the 2005-06 school year is a principal, 15 mainstream class teachers, and two permanent learning support or resource teachers. Based on an enrolment of 420 pupils on 30 September 2005 and 15 mainstream class teachers, the average class size is 28:1.

The staffing of the third school referred to by the Deputy for the 2005-06 school year is a principal, 14 mainstream class teachers, one permanent learning support or resource teacher, one permanent resource teacher and two shared temporary learning support or resource teachers. Based on an enrolment of 381 pupils on 30 September 2005 and 14 mainstream class teachers, the average class size is 27.2:1.

The staffing of the fourth school referred to by the Deputy for the 2005-06 school year is a principal, 14 mainstream class teachers, two permanent learning support or resource teachers, and two shared temporary learning support or resource teachers. Based on an enrolment of 377 pupils on 30 September 2005 and 14 mainstream class teachers, the average class size is 26.9:1.

In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, class sizes will be reduced still further. The deployment of additional posts will be decided within the context of the overall policy that priority will be given to pupils with special needs, those from disadvantaged areas and junior classes. The issue of class size in the four schools referred to by the Deputy will be addressed in this context.