Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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996. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a detailed report, in tabular form, of the average class size, per subject, in secondary schools. [22191/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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997. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the class size policy (details supplied) of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland is followed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22192/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 996 and 997 together.

Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options and class sizes within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.

At post primary level and in accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e., curricular concessions.

The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).

The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

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 further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.

The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.