Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37145/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37146/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37147/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37148/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37149/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37150/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37151/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37152/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37153/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37154/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37155/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37156/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which have 30 or more children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37157/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37158/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37159/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37160/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37161/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37162/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37163/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37164/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37165/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37166/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37167/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37168/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37169/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 to 240, inclusive, together.

Information in relation to classes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The reference date for the provision by schools of this information is the 30th September of the school year in question and the date for return by the schools is 31 October. Consequently, the details for the current school year (2006/2007) are not yet available.

As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary in recent years. There are now 4000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers etc..

Children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas are getting more support than ever before to help them to make the most of their time at school. Indeed, with the thousands of extra primary teachers hired by this Government, recent years have seen the largest expansion in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Furthermore, the Government is committed to providing even more primary teachers next year to reduce class sizes.

As you know all primary schools are staffed on a general rule of at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children. Of course, schools with only one or two teachers have much lower staffing ratios than that – with two teachers for just 12 pupils in some cases and so on — but the general rule is that there is at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children in the school. Next year (2007/2008 school year) this is being reduced to 27 children per classroom teacher.

A further initiative that has been of direct benefit to primary schools has been the change in the criteria for developing schools. For the current school year the threshold for getting a developing school post was reduced specifically to help schools that are seeing large increases in enrolments each year. Over 280 such posts were sanctioned in the 2006/07 school year, compared to 170 in 2005/06.

This Government has shown a clear determination to improve the staffing in our schools and we will continue to prioritise this issue going forward.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37170/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37183/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37184/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37185/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37186/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37187/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37188/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37189/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37190/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37191/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37192/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37193/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37194/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children of nine years of age and under in classes of more than 20 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37195/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 246 to 258, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and would take an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile.

As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now 4000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers etc..

Children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas are getting more support than ever before to help them to make the most of their time at school. Indeed, with the thousands of extra primary teachers hired by this Government, recent years have seen the largest expansion in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Furthermore, the Government is committed to providing even more primary teachers next year to reduce class sizes.

As you know all primary schools are staffed on a general rule of at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children. Of course, schools with only one or two teachers have much lower staffing ratios than that – with two teachers for just 12 pupils in some cases and so on — but the general rule is that there is at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children in the school. Next year (2007/2008 school year) this is being reduced to 27 children per classroom teacher.

A further initiative that has been of direct benefit to primary schools has been the change in the criteria for developing schools. For the current school year the threshold for getting a developing school post was reduced specifically to help schools that are seeing large increases in enrolments each year. Over 280 such posts were sanctioned in the 2006/07 school year, compared to 170 in 2005/06.

This Government has shown a clear determination to improve the staffing in our schools and we will continue to prioritise this issue going forward.