Paul McGrath
Question:137 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the criteria used by her Department to categorise a primary school as disadvantaged and hence warrant the appointment of an extra teacher to that school.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Primary School Criteria.
The criteria used by my Department to categorise a primary school as disadvantaged and hence warrant the appointment of an extra teacher are based on a range of socio-economic indicators agreed by a working party comprised of representatives of my Department, the INTO and Schools' Management.
The 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.
Data under each of the above headings is collected from applicant schools and schools are selected for inclusion in the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme on the basis of priority of need, having regard to available resources.