Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the pupil-teacher ratio each year from 2007 to 2011; the way this compares to the EU 27 and OECD rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35073/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The pupil-teacher ratio published by the Department for the years 2006/07 to 2010/11 are as follows.

First Level Second Level

2006/2007 16.0 13.1

2007/2008 16.0 12.9

2008/2009 15.9 13.0

2009/2010 *16.0 13.6

2010/2011 15.7 13.6 * Whole-time equivalent of part-time teachers were included for the first-time in 09/10

The most recent comparison of PTR with other European and OECD countries was published in the OECD report Education at a Glance 2011 (EAG) and data refers to 2008/2009. PTR in primary schools in Ireland, at 15.9, was marginally below the OECD average (16.0). At second level Ireland with a PTR of 12.6 was also below the OECD average (13.5). The PTR in EAG for second level is lower than the figure published by my Department (13.0) for the same year (2008/2009), due to the inclusion of pupils and teachers in other settings such as STTC, Youthreach and FAS. The OECD's report contains an EU 21 average rather than an EU 27 average which was 14.5 at primary level and 12.1 at second level.