Written answers

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Department of Education and Science

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

11:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 690: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of classes of more than 30 pupils in primary education in each year during the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23001/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Over 75% of pupils are in classes of less than 30 pupils. Preliminary indications from my Department's analysis of statistical returns from schools for the current school year appear to indicate that there has been a drop in the numbers of pupils in classes of over 30 pupils. The analysis of all the returns from schools has yet to be completed and the final outcome will be published later in the summer. The information in respect of the previous years is shown in the table. With over 20,000 individual classes spread across all schools throughout the country there will always be differences in individual class sizes.

The Programme for Government sets out the overarching policy position in relation to the provision of additional teachers and on reductions in class size over the life of the Government.

The Programme contains a commitment to increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4000 and on that basis to make further progress on reducing class sizes.

Budget 2008 provided my Department with €4.6 billion or €380 million extra for teacher pay and pensions. This was a very substantial level of additional investment in the terms of the economic environment on which the budget was based. That allocation provides for paying for over 2000 extra primary teachers more than the number in schools when the Government took office last Summer. It covers the additional teachers that went into schools last September for the previously announced reduction to a 27 to 1 based staffing schedule along with additional teachers this school year and in the coming school year to meet increasing enrolments, to provide for special needs and the language requirements of newcomer children.

This means that in terms of the overall commitment to provide at least 4000 additional teachers the Government in its first two years in office will be well ahead of target.

All Programme for Government commitments to improve public services including those relating to class size are contingent on the economic and budgetary environment and the need for prudent expenditure and fiscal management. Even since the presentation of Budget 2008 last December there have been significant alterations in the external and domestic environment. In that context any reasonable observer would regard the fact that the Government has already taken measures that will see the allocation of over 2000 additional teachers to primary schools as a considerable investment all things considered.

Out of a total of over 20,000 classes in primary schools the following is the number of classes with 30 Pupils and over
YearNumber
2007/2008 School YearNot yet available
2006/2007 School Year3,474
2005/2006 School Year3,516
2004/2005 School Year3,418
2003/2004 School Year3,362
2002/2003 School Year3,473

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