Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 175: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she provides any policy direction to primary schools, in the case in which multi-grade classes are necessary by virtue of the pupil-teacher numbers, on the way in which multi-grade classes should be configured in the context of the overall enrolment of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27054/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The staffing schedule is structured to ensure that, on average, one mainstream classroom teacher is allocated to schools for every 28 pupils. Improvements to the staffing schedule arising from the additional posts in the renewed Programme for Government mean that one mainstream classroom teacher is allocated, on average, for every 27 pupils in medium to larger schools as these schools are typically under greatest pressure in relation to class sizes.

Posts allocated on the basis of the staffing schedule are specifically for mainstream classes and should be deployed accordingly. School authorities are requested to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible, taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). In particular, school authorities should ensure, as far as possible, that there is an equitable distribution of pupils in mainstream classes and that the differential between the largest and smallest classes is kept to a minimum.