Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the highest and lowest pupil-teacher ratios at primary schools here, on a county basis; the degree to which this has fluctuated in the period 2005 to date in 2010; the extent to which it is intended to improve the average in the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4227/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Pupil-Teacher Ratio in respect of all primary schools is only available at national level - it is not disaggregated by county or by any other variable. Information on pupil-teacher ratios is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The data for the current school year (2009-10) are being compiled by my Department. The final outcome will be available later in the year. The ratios for the previous four years were 2005-06, 16.6; 2006-07, 16.0; 2007-08, 16.0; and 2008-09, 15.9. The Deputy will be aware that the Revised Programme for Government commits the Government to no further increase in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and second level schools for the lifetime of this Government. Under the revised programme there is a commitment to provide 500 teaching posts between primary and second levels over the next three years. These posts will be allocated to the schools that are most seriously affected by the recent increase in the pupil-teacher ratio, using objective criteria. Following consultation with the education partners, it is proposed that 200 of the teaching posts will be allocated in the current school year, 100 to each of the primary and post-primary sectors. My Department has met the education partners to discuss the criteria to use to allocate the posts within each sector. All the education partners are anxious to ensure that the allocation criteria are clear and transparent and, where possible, the posts should be allocated in a manner that minimises the administrative burden for schools and the Department.