Now is the time to tackle class sizes as schools prepare for students' return next month, says Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell.
Overcrowding in classrooms is a huge problem, she says, with new figures revealing the median class size in 2019 was 25 students, while the EU average is 20 students per class.
"The reality is that planning for a return to school in just three weeks’ time is being made more difficult because we have the highest class sizes in Europe.
"The Government failed to tackle this in its plans for the reopening of schools, while one in every five primary school children here is in a class of over 30. There are countless classes that are far too big, in buildings too small, and not fit for purpose."
She says classes in Wicklow and Kerry had up to 39 and 38 children respectively, schools in Galway, Limerick, Louth and Meath were not far behind, with up to 37 children sharing one classroom, while in Westmeath there was "a shocking" 45 children in one class last year.
"The first step in ensuring educational standards and safety protocols are maintained, is by drastically reducing class sizes to the EU average of 20. It is extremely disappointing, then, that the Government parties voted against our Private Members’ Motion last week that would have committed the Government to doing just that.
"If there ever was a time to tackle this issue, surely this is it."
She says the Government must immediately undertake an audit of class sizes across the country, and work to address this issue "sooner rather than later".
