A predicted surge in the number of children entering the school system means an extra 3,000 teachers will be needed to maintain class sizes at their current levels.

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has acknowledged that a recruitment drive will be required to meet growing demand, the Irish Times reports.

However, it was suggested that in the forthcoming weeks the Department of Education (DoE) is likely to come under renewed pressure from the Department of Finance to increase class size.

By 2017, an additional 105,000 students are expected to be in full-time education, with primary numbers predicted to grow from 515,000 in 2011 to 579,000 in 2017.

As well as discussing class sizes, Mr Quinn commented on support for special-needs students, claiming the DoE needs to "get better at ensuring that all schools in receipt of additional Deis supports are following the best practices that allow a real difference to be made for disadvantaged students".

Written by Donal Walsh

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