asked the Minister for Education the number of extra teachers which will be provided to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in national schools this year; and when such teachers entered training.

The pupil-teacher ratio has already been reduced this year with effect from I January 1979. Some 218 teachers who qualified in December 1978 were available to fill posts arising out of the improved pupil-teacher ratio.

It is estimated that about 300 teachers over and above normal requirements will be available from the beginning of the school year 1979-80 for further improvements in the pupil-teacher ratio. These teachers are not an identifiable group within the total number expected to be available, which number is expected to include about 250 persons —some trained abroad and some returning to the service after interruption—who will be in addition to the number of 935 teachers completing training this year who were referred to in Question No. 6 of Thursday, 22 March 1979.