The situation regarding class sizes in primary schools is improving overall, but significant disparities persist across the country.
Despite a decline in enrolments and a reduction in the average class size to the lowest level in two decades, almost 10% of pupils still find themselves in oversized classes of 30 or more.
The analysis highlights regional differences, with some counties, particularly in the west and northwest, like Leitrim, Donegal, Sligo, and Monaghan, having a higher likelihood of oversized classes.
In contrast, Kildare reported the largest average class size at 24 pupils, while Longford had the smallest, averaging 20.9 pupils per class.
This variation reflects a "class-size lottery," where students' experiences can differ significantly depending on where they live, even as the overall trend in class sizes is moving in a positive direction due to declining enrolments.
The reduction in overcrowded classes, with 10,000 fewer pupils in such environments last year, is a positive development, but it also underscores the uneven impact across different regions.
