Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an assessment of the impact which changes to the pupil teacher ratio is having on class numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17889/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Pupil teacher ratios for the 2012/2013 academic year are currently being compiled and will be available during the summer of 2013. Figures for the 2011/2012 academic year are available on the Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/.

The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data for each school. The most recent statistics are for the 2011/12 school year. The national average class size is 24.4 pupils. However, with over 20,600 classes in over 3,100 primary schools throughout the country there will always be variations in class sizes at individual school level. My Department's guidance to local school management is that such variations should be kept to the minimum.