Vol. 408 No. 9
82 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education the reason two primary schools (details supplied) in County Mayo were omitted for grant aid purposes for the provision of computer systems in view of the fact that they are at least as disadvantaged as other schools in close proximity, which were deemed eligible for grants.
The provision of computers to primary schools in 1990 was made under the disadvantaged areas scheme and also under a once-off allocation to schools which, while not in the disadvantaged areas scheme, had pupils with physical disabilities and/or communication disorders.
As both of the schools named by the Deputy are not in the disadvantaged areas scheme, they were not deemed eligible for the provision of a computer under that particular scheme.
With regard to the once-off scheme, an application under that scheme was received in my Department from one of the schools in question. The successful schools were selected by my Department on the basis of an assessment conducted by the schools inspectorate, which had regard to priority of need, as supported by the information accompanying the applications. It was not found possible to include the school in question on that basis.
