Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the recommended spatial size of primary school classes for approximately 25 pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24659/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A number of factors are taken into account in determining an appropriate size for a primary school classroom such as curricular development, the pupil/teacher ratio and the fact that the number of pupils in a classroom may vary from year to year to take account of departing classes, and new enrolments. In the provision of major extensions/new school buildings it is the current practice of my Department to use a guideline of 80m2 as a standard size of general classroom, this space allows for the inclusion of two ensuite toilets and in room storage. This is sufficiently large to comfortably cater for a class size in the region of 30 pupils. It should be stressed however that this is a guideline and it may not be possible or viable to achieve it particularly in projects involving the refurbishment of existing classrooms or due to factors such as site constraints.

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the concerns by staff and parents in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 with regard to the size of two classrooms; and the procedures which should be adopted to have this situation remedied. [24660/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has applied to my Department for two new classrooms. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a Band 2 rating. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2006 onwards.