Sinn Féin: 147 Cork schools had classes of 30 children or more

Sinn Féin Education spokesperson, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: "We have an education system overcrowded, underfunded, understaffed, we have some of the highest pupil-teacher ratios in Europe and indeed the western world." Picture: Jim Coughlan.

New figures showing that 1,318 classes across the country hold 30 or more children demonstrates the challenges faced by schools during the pandemic, according to Sinn Féin.

They say there are "countless classes that are far too big, in buildings too small, and not fit for purpose".