VIDEO: Local TD quizzes Minister on 'supersized' classes in some schools

Local TD Denis Naughten has told the Dáil that some children are continuing to be at an educational disadvantage, which will lead to long-term negative consequences, as a result of being taught in 'supersized' classes of 30 pupils or more.

Questioning Education Minister Norma Foley on this issue earlier today (Thursday), Deputy Naughten cited figures from his constituency of Roscommon-Galway.

He said that the latest statistics, for 2019-20, showed that up to 1 in 5 classes in county Galway had 30 or more pupils, while in county Roscommon 1 in 6 pupils were in classes of 30 or more.

These figures, he said, were not good enough.

"If you spread the marmalade too thin on a slice of toast, you won’t even taste it. That's effectively what we are doing with teaching resources in supersized classes across our country," he said.

"In these instances, both weaker and stronger pupils lose out. This causes disruption, and as a result has an impact on the whole class.

"While there has been an improvement in the pupil teacher ratio due to the investment that I, along with others, secured during the term of the last Government, we still have up to 1 in 5 classes in county Galway with 30 or more pupils and in county Roscommon 1 in 6 pupils are in classes of 30 or more.

"Our core objective needs to be that no child should leave primary school not being able to read and write. Children need to be supported to do that, yet statistics show that up to one in ten children fall into that category."

Responding, Minister Foley said "significant improvements" had been made in terms of pupil-teacher ratio between 2016 and 2021.

You can view the Dáil debate here: