Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1384: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4,000 and the staffing schedule to be reduced from a general rule of at least one teacher for every 27 pupils by 2007/2008, by one point a year, to one for every 24 pupils by 2010/2011. [47942/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Teacher numbers at primary level have increased significantly in recent years and by almost 2,400 since June 2007 levels when this Government took office.

I have consistently said that the 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. This obviously impacted on the ability to follow through on commitments in the Programme for Government. The various impacts at school level were included in the Budget day announcements. Even with the budget measures in place there will still be a significantly increased borrowing requirement in 2009.

In relation to staffing, when the country was able to afford it we reduced the basis on which primary teachers are allocated to schools from being based on an average number of primary pupils per teacher from 35 pupils in 1995/96 down to the current level of 27 pupils. This is reflected in the improvements that we have made on class sizes over the years and these improvements reflect our commitment to education. The change to a new average of 28 pupils per teacher from September 2009 has to be viewed in that context. Although it reverses some of the progress that we have made in recent years I had no option but to curtail the annual increase in teacher numbers. The reduced class sizes for the most disadvantaged in our DEIS schools of an average of 1 teacher for every 20 pupils in Junior classes and an average of 1 teacher for every 24 pupils in Senior classes are not affected by the Budget decision.

While the budget measures will impact on class sizes it will be necessary in the more testing economic climate ahead for us to continue to target and prioritise our resources to maximum effect for everyone. While teacher numbers are important numerous influential reports have highlighted the fact that teacher quality is the single most important factor — far and above anything else — in improving educational outcomes for children. Ensuring high quality teaching and learning is a challenge and dealing with factors that inhibit it represent a challenge for the Government, the Department, school management and indeed the teacher unions.

My Department will be advising individual schools in the normal way in relation to their staffing allocations. The preparatory work for this has commenced with the processing of enrolment data that has been received from schools. The staffing allocation processes including notification to schools will commence shortly. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. In addition to the mainstream classroom teachers my Department also allocates teaching resources to schools for special needs and language support. The final allocation to a school is also a function of the operation of the redeployment panels which provide for the retention of a teacher in an existing school if a new post is not available within the agreed terms of the scheme.

I am confident that as the global economy improves it will be possible to build again on the significant achievements of recent years and do so in a manner consistent with overall prudent management of the Irish economy.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1385: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to prioritise reductions in the size of classes in the core subjects of Irish, English and maths at second level. [47943/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The particular programme for Government commitment referred to by the Deputy would require additional teaching posts in second level schools and therefore cannot be considered until the public finances are stabilised, economic recovery is underway and tax revenues improve.