Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Mar 1990

Vol. 397 No. 5

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Schools.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

160 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if, in cases where she has recognised and designated primary schools as disadvantaged, which as a result benefit from the allocation of extra teachers over the quota, she will carry over to the secondary schools this same disadvantaged designation where the secondary school is taking 99 per cent of its pupils from disadvantaged primary schools, as is the case at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Mourne Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Extra resources will be made available to provide additional teachers for some schools in specific disadvantaged areas for the school session 1990/91. Officials of my Department are currently engaged in discussions with the interested parties in order to define the specific criteria to be applied in determining disadvantaged areas.

The circumstances of schools such as the one referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the context of such discussions.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

161 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Education her views on the situation that, while the children of the nation should be treated equally, the ability of well-off parents, whose children go to schools in middle class areas, to make voluntary contributions, give these children an advantage over children in poorer districts; if schools in disadvantaged areas, both primary and secondary, should be afforded an increased capitation grant to compensate for the inability of parents to make voluntary contributions as is the case at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Mourne Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12; and if reference to the statistics of unemployment levels of parents of children enrolled in these schools could act as the basis of positive discrimination.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The day-to-day running costs of national schools are met by the provision of State capitation grants and contributions from local sources. The capitation grant is not intended to meet operating costs in full. Each board of management is responsible, under the Rules for National Schools, for making arrangements for the collection of such funds locally, in supplement of the State grant, as will ensure that the school premises will be adequately heated and cleaned and kept in a proper decorative condition.

The capitation grant scheme is of general application and it was concluded, after an examination of the matter in 1985, that it would not be possible, within the existing resources available, to depart from the present system of school financing.

An increase in the capitation grant for national schools is being provided for in 1990. The standard rate of grant is being increased from £26.50 to £28.00 per pupil. Furthermore I have secured an increased allocation of £1.5 million for the support of national schools in disadvantaged areas in 1990.

Special provision for second level schools in disadvantaged areas has been made previously by way of additional teachers. Moreover, in accordance with the Programme for Government and the current Programme for National Recovery the Government hve decided that extra resources will be made available to provide additional teachers in specific disadvantaged areas. Appointments will be effective from the start of the 1990/91 school year. Officials of the Department are at present engaged in discussions with the interested parties on the question of criteria to be applied in determining disadvantaged areas.

I would also like to point out that the per capita grant for secondary schools generally has been increased from £140 to £150 with effect from 1 January, 1990.