(Supplementary Order Paper) 21 DÁIL ÉIREANN

Dé Máirt, 20 Márta, 2007 Tuesday, 20th March, 2007

2.30 p.m.

GNÓ COMHALTAÍ PRÍOBHÁIDEACHA PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Fógra i dtaobh leasú ar Thairiscint: Notice of amendment to Motion

67. “That Dáil Éireann noting that:

— the educational needs of children are more difficult to meet in large classes;

— there is growing concern among parents and teachers at the lack of progress on class sizes;

— the Government has reneged on the commitment contained in An Agreed Programme for Government that the average size of classes for children under 9 would be brought below the international best-practice guideline of 20:1;

— there are more than 100,000 primary pupils and 35,000 second level pupils being taught in classes of 30 or more;

— Ireland has currently the 2nd highest average class size in the EU; and

— additional teachers are also urgently required to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and those from disadvantaged areas;

calls for:

— the setting out of a timetable for meeting the commitment on class sizes given in An Agreed Programme for Government and to put in place the steps needed to ensure the recruitment of the additional teachers required and the provision of the extra classrooms required;

— the reduction of class sizes to the European norm;

— a reduction in maximum class sizes to 25:1 in mainstream classes and 15:1 in schools where there is chronic disadvantage;

— sanction for the appointment of additional special needs teachers to meet current needs and to implement the terms of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and

— greater engagement between the Department of Education and Science, the planning authorities and local communities so that school needs can be delivered on a timely and orderly basis.” — Jan O'Sullivan, , Brendan Howlin, Michael D. Higgins, Liz McManus, Emmet Stagg, Thomas P. Broughan, Joan Burton, Joe Costello, , Kathleen Lynch, Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, Brian O'Shea, Seamus Pattison, Willie Penrose, Ruairi Quinn, Seán Ryan, Joe Sherlock, Róisín Shortall, Mary Upton, . P.T.O. Leasú: Amendment:

1. To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:

“— commends the Government for putting 10,000 more teachers in place;

— supports the priority given in recent years to providing vastly improved services for children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas;

— notes that as a result approximately 50,000 children from disadvantaged areas are already in much smaller classes;

— further notes the major increases in staffing supports for children with special needs, the improvements in the process for accessing such supports and the Government’s commitment to the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004;

— welcomes the fact that last year there were 80,000 less primary school children in classes of 30 or more than in 1997;

— appreciates that another 800 primary teachers will be put in place next September, with the focus on reducing class sizes;

— commends the fact that there is now one teacher for every 13 students at second level;

— further commends the Government for the unprecedented level of investment in school buildings in recent years, and the improvements that have been made in school planning; and

— welcomes the provision of €4.5 billion for the school building and modernisation programme under the National Development Plan 2007–2013.” — An tAire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta.