Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to reduce pupil-teacher ratios in order that it does not take an additional 32 pupils to go from a three to a four-teacher school, an additional 34 pupils to go from a four to a five-teacher school, an additional 30 pupils to go from a five to a six-teacher school, and a 29:1 pupil-teacher ratio being applied thereafter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32624/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 605: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether pupil-teacher ratios which vary between 30:1 and 34:1 for schools with teachers numbering between three and six is acceptable in view of the fact that the curriculum is premised on much smaller class sizes; the remedial action she may be considering to address these contradictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32625/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether the higher pupil-teacher ratios being applied to schools with teachers numbering between three and five is discriminatory against smaller, usually rural-based schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32626/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 to 606, inclusive, together.

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, issued annually to all primary schools. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. The staffing schedule refers to the allocation of mainstream teaching posts in addition to a principal. In the case of smaller schools, the principal has a class teaching role. Accordingly, in the case of most smaller schools the actual class size is less than 29 pupils.

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 2003-2004 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 1996-1997 school year to a projected 17.1:1 in 2004-2005.

More than 4,500 additional teachers have been employed in our primary schools since 1997. In allocating teaching posts regard has been had to the commitment 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. Providing for children with special educational needs, there are now more than 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. One out of every five primary school teachers is now working specifically with children with special needs.

The new action plan for educational inclusion, delivering equality of opportunity in schools will result in reduced 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. 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.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 607: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether the current most favourable pupil-teacher ratio of 29:1 for primary schools is excessively high; the pupil-teacher ratio regarded as optimal; the timetable she envisages for achieving class ratios of 20:1 as originally promised by the Government within a five-year period in the programme for Government 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32627/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 608: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average primary school class size here in the school year 2004-05; the average primary school class size in County Clare for that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32628/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the primary school pupil-teacher ratio here in the school year 2004-05; the primary school pupil-teacher ratio in County Clare for that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32629/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 to 609, inclusive, together.

The average class size for pupils in ordinary classes in ordinary schools in County Clare for the 2004-05 school year was 23.1 and the national average primary class size was 23.9. The figure for the national pupil teacher ratio for the 2004-05 is not yet available.

My Department does not keep pupil-teacher ratio statistics on a county basis. 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 2003-2004 school year, when the average class size was 23.9, down from 26.6 in 1996-1997. The pupil-teacher ratio at primary level, which includes all the teachers including resource teachers, has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-1997 school year to a projected 17.1:1 in 2004-2005.

More than 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 more than 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. 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, DEIS or delivering equality of opportunity in schools. This action plan will result in reduced 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.

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.