Vol. 407 No. 2
87 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the criteria employed by her Department in designating a school as disadvantaged for the purposes of grants and other supports; and if she will further outline the process of designation and the steps a particular school can take to advance their case for designation.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 134 of 13 March 1991.
Discussions were held between officials of my Department and representatives of management, teachers and parents at which criteria to establish relative disadvantage in schools were agreed. The agreed criteria relate to educational and socio economic factors including such matters as unemployment levels, local authority housing, rural deprivation, medical card holders and children of lone parents.
All primary and post-primary schools were requested to supply details of the number of pupils to whom the agreed criteria applied.
The schools in question will then be placed in order of priority using the above agreed criteria.
