Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Apr 1992

Vol. 418 No. 6

Written Answers. - Teaching Posts in Disadvantaged Areas.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

108 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if, in relation to special measures to counter the effects of socio-economic deprivation in primary schools, he will outline (1) the total number of additional over-quota teaching posts allocated to schools, (2) the total number of schools which have (a) a shared ex-quota post and (b) more than one such post, (3) the total number of such posts, if any, which are designated home-school liaison, (4) the number of schools, if any, in another category which receive financial but not staffing assistance, (5) the basis on which additional grants are paid to schools in each category and the amount of these grants, (6) whether he recognises that a number of schools in deprived areas claim that additional teachers are needed to further reduce class sizes and to cope with pupils educational and social needs and (7) whether the overall programme of measures will be augmented by the appointment of further teachers this year.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

The primary mechanism for addressing the effects of socio-economic deprivation in primary schools is the disadvantaged areas scheme which provides special teaching assistance and extra funding to schools designated as disadvantaged.

At present under the scheme, a total of 225 additional over-quota teaching posts have been allocated to 206 schools. In the majority of cases such posts are dedicated to individual schools. However, 21 schools enjoy more than one over-quota post, while 13 schools share seven of the posts.

Schools are allowed a certain latitude in their use of these extra posts so as to enable them to be applied to maximum advantage and this may include an element of home-school-liaison work.

All the schools mentioned receive supplementary funding which in the current school year amounted to £17 per pupil. A further four schools also received this funding but were not allocated over-quota posts because of their low enrolments.

In addition to the above supports, a special home-school-liaison scheme provides full-time and locally based co-ordinators to groups of schools in areas of particular disadvantage. To date, a total of 45 co-ordinators have been put in place covering 80 selected schools.

Schools seeking disadvantaged status are assessed and prioritised as to need on the basis of socio-economic and educational indicators including such factors as unemployment levels, local authority housing, medical card holders and information on basic literacy and numeracy. In addition, in assessing the relative levels of disadvantage among applicant schools, account is taken of prevailing pupil teacher ratios.

The question of any further appointments under the above schemes will be kept under review in the light of available resources.