Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Schools.
Tomás MacGiolla
Question:
134
Tomás Mac Giolla
asked the
Minister for Education
if she will outline in respect of (a) primary level and (b) post-primary schools (i) the number of schools designated as disadvantaged for the first time in 1990, (ii) the location of these schools by county, (iii) the additional staffing and funding allocated to these schools, (iv) whether these schools will retain this designation, (v) the number of schools which it is expected will be designated disadvantaged by the end of 1991 and (vi) the total number and proportion of such schools now so designated at primary and post-primary level.
The position in relation to primary schools is that arising from the recommendations of a representative working party which reported in 1990, criteria have now been established for the designation of schools as disadvantaged for the purpose of the allocation of additional resources.
These criteria assume that there are greater and lesser degrees of disadvantage rather than an absolute indicator classifying schools as disadvantaged or not disadvantaged.
There are currently 188 schools designated as disadvantaged for the purpose of additional resource allocation. Each of these schools, with the exception of seven schools where numbers are small, was allocated an additional teaching post together with additional funding of £5 per pupil for equipment and materials, £10 per pupil for school operating costs and, where these exist, £2 per pupil in respect of home/school liaison schemes. The location of the schools by county is as follows:
|
Dublin
|
131
|
|
Cork
|
23
|
|
Limerick
|
14
|
|
Louth
|
5
|
|
Galway
|
2
|
|
Mayo
|
1
|
|
Sligo
|
2
|
|
Waterford
|
3
|
|
Westmeath
|
2
|
|
Wicklow
|
5
|
Retention of designation as disadvantaged will be related to the operation of the criteria.
It cannot be stated at this time how many schools will be designated by end 1991.
The 188 schools comprise 5.7 per cent of primary schools. The 58,000 pupils in these schools comprise 10.6 per cent of pupils in those schools.
The position in relation to the second level sector is as follows: (i) my Department have not drawn up a list of post-primary schools designated as disadvantaged but have information on approximately 75 per cent of all post-primary schools which shows relative disadvantage, by reference to agreed criteria, as between such schools. Accordingly the concept of what proportion of schools are designated as "disadvantaged" does not arise. My Department allocated an additional 60 teachers to schools nationwide for the 1990-91 school year under a scheme of assistance to post-primary schools in disadvantaged areas. The posts were allocated on the basis of agreed criteria drawn up by a working party representative of school authorities, teacher unions, parents' interests and my Department; (ii) the schools benefiting under the scheme were located in the following counties:
|
County
|
Number of Posts
|
|
Dublin
|
23
|
|
Mayo
|
7
|
|
Donegal
|
6
|
|
Galway
|
3
|
|
Limerick
|
3
|
|
Tipperary
|
3
|
|
Cork
|
2
|
|
Kerry
|
2
|
|
Waterford
|
2
|
|
Wexford
|
2
|
|
Wicklow
|
2
|
|
Carlow
|
1
|
|
Kildare
|
1
|
|
Longford
|
1
|
|
Meath
|
1
|
|
Roscommon
|
1
|
|
Total
|
60
|
(iii) In each case, schools were authorised to employ an additional permanent teacher; (iv) there are no plans to withdraw these teachers. Schools which have been allocated an additional teacher under the scheme of assistance will be entitled to retain this teacher for as long as an established need exists; and (v) a further 60 posts will be allocated to post-primary schools in disadvantaged areas for the 1991-92 school year in accordance with the provisions of theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress.
