Vol. 432 No. 2
132 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which Irish manufactured office supplies and equipment, including computer supplies, are provided to her Department or to offices the Estimate for which falls within her group; the extent to which such requirements are met by overseas manufacturers where Irish alternatives exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Office supplies and equipment including computer supplies are purchased by my Department from Irish firms. As far as possible my Department purchases Irish manufactured goods. In many cases Irish manufactured alternatives do not exist. The purchase of all office supplies and equipment, including computer supplies, follows standard Government purchasing procedures as laid down by the Department of Finance and the EC.
133 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a portion of the extra funding for disadvantaged schools through extra concessionary teachers, special units and other such areas will be focused on areas of high unemployment on the north side of Dublin, in particular, Darndale, Kilmore, Ayrfield, Donaghmede and Kilbarrack.
Most of the schools serving the areas referred to by the Deputy are already included in the Scheme of Assistance for Schools in Designated Areas of Disadvantage, and as such, have been allocated additional ex-quota teaching posts and also receive supplementary capitation funding amounting to £17 per pupil.
In addition to the above supports, many of those schools also have the services of a Home-School-Community liaison co-ordinator.
