Pat Carey
Question:241 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will examine the application of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for a full-time resource teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12993/02]
Vol. 553 No. 2
241 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will examine the application of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for a full-time resource teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12993/02]
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. On 13 May last, my Department approved 18.5 hours per week resource teaching support for five pupils attending the school in question. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the school recently and I understand that an application for resource teaching support for a further pupil will be submitted to my Department shortly. My Department will be in further contact with the school following receipt of the application.
242 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will examine the application by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for a full-time concessionary post. [12994/02]
The new disadvantage programme, Giving Children An Even Break, was launched last year to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The schools targeted under the programme were identified through a comprehensive and objective survey of all primary schools carried out in March-April 2000 by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, on my Department's behalf. There are separate urban and rural dimensions to the programme. Schools categorised as urban with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils are being supported, where necessary, over the three-year period through staff allocations to implement a pupil teacher ratio of 20:1 in the junior classes – infants through second class – and a pupil teacher ratio of 27:1 in senior classes – third through sixth classes.
Schools participating in Giving Children An Even Break are eligible to receive a range of additional supports, including teacher posts and financial supports to be targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The additional supports to be provided reflect the level of concentration of pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in each school invited to participate in the programme. Schools already in receipt of additional resources under the disadvantaged areas scheme, including the school in question, will retain their entitlements under that scheme.
Under the disadvantaged areas scheme, the school in question is benefiting from the services of a shared disadvantaged concessionary teacher and a shared home-school-community liaison teacher. The school also qualifies for special supplementary capitation funding at the rate of €38.09 per pupil and a refund of the television licence fee.