Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers in second level schools in counties Cavan and Monaghan who must to teach more than 30 children in individual classrooms; if she is satisfied that teachers can deal with more than 30 adolescent children in one class; the steps she has taken to rectify the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32539/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Teacher allocations for second level schools are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules relating to recognised pupil enrolment. In general a ratio of 18:1 is applied in respect of recognised pupils on established junior certificate, leaving certificate, repeat leaving certificate and transition year programmes and a ratio of 16:1 is applied in respect of recognised pupils on the leaving certificate vocational programme, post-leaving certificate courses and leaving certificate applied. Each school management authority is required to organise its curriculum, teaching timetable and subject options having regard to pupils' needs within the limits of its approved teacher allocation.

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 13.4:1 in the 2004-05 school year. The rules for allocating teaching posts provide that where a school management authority is unable to meet essential curricular commitments, my Department will consider applications for additional short-term support. An independent appeals committee is available to school authorities which wish to appeal the adequacy of their teacher allocation.