Written answers

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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493. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects pupil-teacher ratios and class sizes to improve in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3901/15]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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500. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she has identified areas throughout the country currently experiencing class sizes in excess of the national average; if she has in mind a particular strategy to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3908/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 500 together.

My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015.

This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focussed pre-school inspections. It was not possible to also secure the funding which would have been required to change the staffing schedule for primary schools.

The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about an improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.

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