Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the statistics his Department collects with regard to primary schools; the way this data gathering operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44348/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department conducts an Annual Census of primary schools in order to gather the data my Department needs for statistical, administrative and policy planning purposes. The types of data collected include information on pupil's age, standard and class, data on entrants, leavers, learning support, pupil retention and teacher data.

The Census also collects information on pupils with special educational needs in special classes and special schools.

The Annual Census of primary schools is a paper-based census. Once a form is received back into the Department, it is logged and checked and errors are resolved with the school if necessary. The data is then keyed into a database and undergoes further validation. When every school has made a census return and each form has been fully processed and added to the database, a series of statistical tables is produced giving up to date information on various indicators such as overall enrolment in primary schools, average class size, teacher numbers and pupil teacher ratio. Schools are asked to return their forms to the Department by the end of October each year. Due to the large volume of forms it takes a number of months after the October deadline to fully complete processing and produce final statistics.