Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the value of smaller class sizes which ensure a high quality delivery of education; the steps she will take to reduce the class sizes to an acceptable level in line with international standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38515/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The primary staffing schedule currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils, with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. Schools have autonomy in relation to the deployment of classroom teachers to individual classes. 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. The Staffing Schedule includes the provison where schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds. The staffing appeals process has been extended for the current school year to include a new appeals criterion for those schools that make a significant contribution to the provision of school places which assists the response to demographic growth within their area and as a result are under significant pressure on their class sizes at infants level.

The context for any discussion about class sizes is that my Department, like all other Government Departments, is operating within a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. This budgetary programme has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing some economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth that will enable us to move to a point in future budgets where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about an improvement in PTR and class size.

In the meantime, my Department's focus is on targeting any available resources to cater for the continued increase in student numbers across primary, post-primary and third level.