Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1412. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on room assistance provision at primary school level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34401/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department does not allocate classroom assistants to schools nor does it have any plans or funding to do so.

Classroom teachers are allocated to primary schools on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils. The deployment of teachers within schools is dealt with at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is 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.). School authorities are also requested, where possible, to use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes.