David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 559: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in primary schools whose numbers are in excess of 25 pupils and in excess of 30 pupils, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5098/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In the 2004-05 school year 5,755 classes in primary schools had between 25 and 29 pupils, inclusive. A further 3,435 classes had 30 or more pupils. The total number of classes in primary schools was 18,134.

The Deputy should be aware that 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 2004-05 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 learning support-resource teachers, has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.1:1 in 2004-05. As I indicated in my statement on the recently published Estimates, I have secured sufficient funding to provide for even smaller classes in our primary schools in the next school year. The Minister for Finance has committed to a further reduction in class size in the following year.

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 their teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

To ensure openness and transparency in the system an independent appeal board is now in place to decide on any appeals on mainstream staffing. 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.