Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1056. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current average class size, that is, pupil-to-teacher ratio, in primary and post-primary schools in County Meath; the corresponding figures for the latest academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41447/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The department does not publish pupil to teacher ratio data at county level, however, class size information at school level are available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/class-size-information-at-individual-primary-school-level/

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1057. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of classes in Meath that currently exceed 30 pupils; the way in which this proportion compares to national levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41448/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Please find attached the number of classes over 30 in County Meath and nationally and their proportion to the overall class count.

Data is based on mainstream pupils in mainstream classes and is collated from the final primary class tables for 2024-2025, which can be found at the link below:

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/class-size-information-at-individual-primary-school-level/

We are currently unable to calculate class size at post primary due to the difficulty of recording discrete class sizes where pupils have different subject choices and subject levels available to them.

The Government is investing a record €11.8 billion into education and schools through Budget 2025.

This record level of investment has allowed the Government to invest in tackling educational disadvantage and supporting those with special educational needs to achieve their full potential. It has enabled huge investment in the school buildings programme, in curriculum reform, in school leadership and in continuous professional development for teachers.

The Department’s Primary Staffing Schedule is the key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level. This school year, the primary staffing schedule operates on a general average of 23 pupils to every 1 teacher, which is historically the lowest-ever ratio of pupils to teachers at primary level.

More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.

Posts allocated on the basis of this staffing schedule are specifically for mainstream classes. School authorities are requested to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible, taking all relevant contextual factors into account (classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment). In particular, school authorities should ensure that there is an equitable distribution of pupils in mainstream classes and that the differential between the largest and smallest classes is kept to a minimum. Given that the staffing schedule operates to a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, if a school has a large class it generally also has a small class.

Schools have the flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and my Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups.

I am very conscious of the Primary Staffing Schedule and the need to prioritise teacher allocations in primary schools.

I am considering how best to make further progress as part of the annual budgetary process in reducing the primary pupil : teacher ratio in the context of Programme for Government implementation.