asked the Minister for Education the actions or activities which he proposes to undertake within the next 12 months with regard to improving the employment prospects and quality of life generally of people in the Dublin north-inner city area.
Written Answers - Dublin North Inner City.
98.
Since 1984 my Department has promoted a programme of special educational measures for schools in disadvantaged areas. Through this programme special assistance has been provided for six schools in the north-inner city area of Dublin and it is hoped to assist a further six schools in this area in 1986.
The special measures from which the schools benefit include the following:
(i) special grants for the purchase of books and equipment,
(ii) in co-operation with boards of management the sponsorship of home — school — community liaison initiatives,
(iii) in-service training for the teachers in the participating schools.
A total of 27 additional teachers are currently employed in national schools in the north-inner city area under the scheme for the provision of additional teaching assistance for schools serving areas of disadvantage. I would hope that as further resources become available it will be possible to allocate posts under this scheme.
In the building programme for second level education it is anticipated my Department, within the period in question, will sanction the release to tender by the City of Dublin VEC of the new inner city post primary school to be constructed at Sean McDermott Street.
The existence of a new post primary school with modern facilities, including a larger than usual physical education hall, should over time confer considerable educational, social and community benefits on the local people and play a significant role, in particular, in improving the future employment prospects of the young people growing up in the area.
In providing for vocational preparation and training of young persons under 18 years within the educational system this Department contributes to the enhancement of the employment prospects of participants in such programmes. A total of 300 approximately participated in the vocational preparation and training programme in 1985-86 in schools in the north-inner city area. In addition, the City of Dublin VEC is participating in a study on the feasibility of establishing a business and innovation centre for Dublin which would examine possibilities for the creation of new opportunities for employment.