Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1761: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average class size of schools in disadvantaged areas; the number of schools in such areas that have class sizes of 25 to 30 pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3068/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has in the past operated a number of schemes to tackle educational disadvantage and reduce class sizes in schools in disadvantaged areas. These existing schemes are being integrated into the new action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) which I launched in 2005, one aspect of which will be more staffing for the most disadvantaged schools. Under the plan, there has been a reduction in class sizes to 24:1 at senior level and 20:1 at junior level in the 190 primary schools serving communities with the highest concentrations of disadvantage.

Participating schools in the Giving Children an Even Break programme which was launched in 2001 were supported to implement a maximum class size of 20:1 in junior classes and 27:1 in senior classes.

The Breaking the Cycle project which was launched in 1996 provided staffing supports to implement maximum class size of 15: 1 in junior classes and 27:1 in senior classes for 32 schools in designated areas of disadvantage.

Prior to that the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme which was launched in 1984 benefited participating schools by providing ex-quota concessionary posts which were not determined by reference to enrolment. The recommended guideline for the maximum class size for schools that were designated disadvantaged was 29:1. When a designated disadvantaged school exceeded this guideline an additional mainstream teaching post, referred to as a maximum class size post, was sanctioned by my Department.

Class reductions in the 32 schools under the Breaking the Cycle project and in the 211 schools under the Giving Children an Even Break will continue in operation in the schools concerned.

School authorities have been reminded that my Department allocates adequate staffing to schools to ensure that the maximum class size guidelines under DEIS are implemented in both junior and senior classes. If schools are unable to operate within these guidelines, due for example to increased enrolments, they may make a submission on the matter to my Department for consideration.