Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary school children in school classes of more than 35; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5587/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary school children in school classes of more than 30; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5595/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 140 together.

According to statistical returns made to my Department, the number of primary school pupils in September 2004 in ordinary classes of more than 30 but less than 36 was 69,179. The corresponding figure for classes of more than 35 was 4,158.

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 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. This means that while schools are staffed at present on the basis of at least one classroom teacher for every 29 pupils, over the next two years this will be reduced to 28 in 2006/07 and 27 in 2007/08.

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.