Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the causes for a geographical area (details supplied) having the most overcrowded primary school classes in the country, according to a recent Irish National Teachers' Organisation study; his plans to reduce class sizes in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29714/11]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons for the discrepancy in average class sizes per county across the country; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that County Wicklow has the highest proportion of children in classes of 30 or more students; if he will give a guarantee that, should there be measures in budget 2012 to increase average class sizes, these will not impact on children who are already in classes of 30 students or more; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that, according to the OECD, Ireland has the second highest average class sizes in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30169/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 177 together.

Class size data for all primary schools is compiled by my Department on an annual basis and is available on the Department's website. The most recently published data relates to the 2010/11 school year. The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils. Schools have autonomy on how these posts are deployed to individual classes.

School authorities are advised in the staffing schedule 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, they should ensure, as far as possible, that there is an equitable distribution of pupils in mainstream classes and the differential between the largest and the smallest classes is kept to a minimum. With over 20,000 individual classes spread across all schools throughout the country there will always be differences in individual class sizes.

At this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2012/13 school year.

The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the next budget and meeting our obligations under the EU/IMF Programme.

The Government will endeavour to protect front-line education services as best as possible. However, this must be done within the context of bringing our overall public expenditure into line with what we can afford as a country. All areas of Government will have to manage on a reduced level of resources. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that can be provided are used to maximum effect to achieve the best possible outcome for pupils.