Vol. 432 No. 6
213 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education the criteria to be met by a primary school (details supplied) in County Limerick to qualify for disadvantaged status; if an application has been received from this school; and if so, the status of the application.
The procedures for selecting schools for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas scheme are based on a range of socio-economic criteria agreed between my Department, the INTO and the schools management. Factors taken into account include the incidence of unemployment, local authority housing and medical card holders among the parents of the children concerned. Account is also taken of the views of my Department's Inspectorate on the relative levels of need between schools and the prevailing pupil-teacher ratios.
As I have recently announced in the House, I am allocating additional ex-quota teaching posts to the scheme with effect from September, 1993. This will allow for the inclusion of an additional 50 schools in the scheme.
All national schools were circulated and invited to apply for inclusion in this allocation. On the basis of information supplied, schools were assessed and prioritised in order of need.
My Department has no record of an application having been received from the school referred to by the Deputy.
214 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if she will allocate a shared remedial teacher for schools (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
An additional 86 remedial teachers are being appointed with effect from September 1993. Decisions have now been taken on the allocation of these posts and the schools selected have recently been notified.
These appointments are being made on the basis of priority of need, following the collection of data from schools by my Department's Primary Inspectorate.
Unfortunately, the schools mentioned by the Deputy have not been selected on this occasion. However, I will be keeping the question of further need in this area under review as part of a broader commitment to appoint 500 additional remedial teachers by September, 1996. The needs of all schools, including the schools mentioned by the Deputy, will be considered in this context.
215 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if a grant for provision of a school parking area will be provided for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick in view of the fact that bus and car traffic have to park on a busy narrow road thus creating a potential hazard with attendant accident risks for motorists and children; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is considering the application from the board of management referred to by the Deputy. The matter is being considered in consultation with my Department's professional advisers and a decision will be conveyed to the chairman of the board of management as early as possible.
216 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if she will have arrangements made for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick to be collected at the cross near his house in view of the special circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
In order for my Department to investigate this matter the name of the school attended by the boy in question is required. If the Deputy will supply details of the school attended I will arrange to have the matter investigated further.
