Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size for primary and secondary schools in Laois and Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34329/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent data available to my Department in respect of average class size in primary schools are for the 2004-05 school year. In that year, the average class size in primary schools in Laois was 23.9 and in Offaly 24.0. Information on class sizes in post-primary schools in Laois and Offaly is not readily available in my Department.

The number of children in primary school classes of more than 30 has halved nationally since this Government took up office. Major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years with the hiring of more than 4,500 additional teachers at primary level. This represents the largest increase in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. The annual estimated value of the additional expenditure on these posts is more than €200 million. In 1996-97, the average class size in primary schools was 27. Today it is 24. In 1996-97, there was one teacher for every 22 children in our primary schools. Today there is one teacher for every 17 children, the lowest pupil-teacher ratio in the history of the State.

Significant improvements have also been made in the pupil-teacher ratio at second level in recent years. The post-primary ratio has been reduced from 16:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 13.4:1 in the 2004-05 school year. Aside from decreasing average class size, the unprecedented increase in school staffing in recent years has also greatly improved the services provided for children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas.

While there is more to be done to reduce class sizes further, it should be acknowledged how much progress has been made in this area in recent years. Under the new action plan for tackling education disadvantage which I launched last May, more children in disadvantaged primary schools will be in classes of 20 in the current 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.