(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools in Dublin city with 36 or more pupils per class.

The number of such schools which have at least one class of 36 or more pupils is 199.

(Dublin Central): Can the Minister give any indication of the national average in so far as pupil-teacher ratio is concerned?

It is 33.

(Dublin Central): Have the Department given any special priority in this regard to under-privileged areas, especially in the city?

The figure of 199 includes all the schools in Dublin in which there may be one or more than one class of 36 or more pupils. In 19 of those schools there is one class with 36 or more pupils while in 14 schools there are three classes in which there are 36 or more pupils.

(Dublin Central): Can the Minister say in how many classes in the city there are 40 or more pupils?

I have not got that information here but if the Deputy puts down a question I shall obtain the reply for him. Such information takes time to compile.

Can the Minister say how many pupils are involved altogether?

No, I have not got that information.

The Minister said there are 199 schools. How many are there in Dublin altogether?

245.

So it is 199 out of 245.

Yes. In the 16-class schools there may be one class with 37 pupils and that is included in the 199.

Would the Minister accept that most of these schools are in built-up areas where, unfortunately, there has been disruption of family life and, because of that, a figure below the national average rather than above it would be essential?

In an earlier answer to Deputy Dowling about special schools in which there are pupils who need special attention I said the average there is 1 to 29.

(Dublin Central): In schools in my constituency the ratio is in excess of the figure given by the Minister.

That is not a question.

The Deputy would have to give me the school before I could say what the figure is.