Government pledge to lower class sizes in doubt due to ‘overspending’

Pledges to reduce class sizes in schools over the coming years should not be considered until “overspending” in other areas of education is brought under control, public spending officials have warned.

The programme for government commits to reducing the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level from one classroom teacher for every 23 pupils to one for every 19 pupils over its term in office.

The planned move follows calls from teachers’ unions to tackle “supersized” classes, with more than 50,000 pupils in classes with 30 children or more and more than 250,000 in classes with 25 or more.

The warning comes as Minister for Education Helen McEntee prepares to address teaching unions’ annual conferences.