Hanafin defends class sizes record

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin has defended the Government’s record on class sizes, despite schools having to lose teachers this summer because of her failure to implement pre-election promises on the issue.

She also questioned the claim by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation that more than 100 primary schools with falling numbers are to lose a teacher for the next school year. However, Ms Hanafin admitted that 50 schools would lose staff as a result of the Government putting its class size plan on hold this year.

“I made it clear when I announced the education budget for this year that we would not be able to reduce the class size this year because we have major pressures of putting in additional teachers all over the country,” the minister said.