Govt failing to meet promises on reducing class sizes

The number of primary school pupils in class sizes of 30 or more has increased by 5,000 in the past year, according to figures released to the Labour Party by the Department of Education.

The increase comes despite government promises to reduce class sizes in all primary schools.

The Department of Education figures show that more than 111,000 children are in classes of 30 or more pupils at primary schools around the country.

This represents more than one quarter of all primary school pupils.

The worst areas have been identified as Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal in Dublin, as well as Wicklow, Louth, Meath, Kildare and Co Cork.

The Labour Party is vowing to make the matter an election issue, saying it has come across major unrest about class sizes on the doorsteps.

"The Government have yet again failed to live up to their own promises," said Sinn Féin education spokesperson Seán Crowe.

"In the 2002 Programme for Government, both Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats pledged to reduce the class size to 20 pupils and under for all children aged nine and under by 2007. The Government have reneged on this pledge."