Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any exception can be made to the pupil-teacher ratio provisions at a school (details supplied) in County Cork due to a large number of junior students attending up to second class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9600/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The staffing schedule for primary schools for the school year 2011/2012 was published on my Department's website in March 2011. It sets out in a fair and transparent manner the pupil thresholds for the allocation of mainstream classroom posts for all schools.

It is not possible to make an exception to the staffing schedule in the case of the school referred to by the Deputy. School authorities are requested to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible, taking all relevant contextual matters 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 the differential between the largest and smallest classes is kept to a minimum.