Vol. 398 No. 2
67 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the areas at present regarded as disadvantaged for the purposes of education provision; if she has any proposals to extend those areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There are 189 schools at various centres throughout the country at present regarded as disadvantaged for the purpose of education provision. A working group on criteria for identifying schools in disadvantaged areas have recently submitted a report to my Department and this report is being examined at present. My Department are also carrying out a review of the scheme.
In addition, the general question of educational disadvantage will be addressed by the Primary Review Body whose report and recommendations I await. In the circumstances I am not in a position, at this juncture, to make any comment concerning the question of allowing additional schools entry to the scheme.
