Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jan 1995

Vol. 447 No. 11

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Schools, Dublin 15.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

157 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Education, in view of the security problems at a national school (details supplied) in Dublin 15, if she will consider the allocation of additional resources for this disadvantaged area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1066/95]

Liam Lawlor

Question:

172 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Education, in view of the demographic profile of a national school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 and in view of the fact that it shares this characteristic with and serves a similarly disadvantaged area, if she will extend financial support to enable this school to provide creche facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1332/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 172 together.

I am aware of the concerns regarding security which have been expressed by the authorities of the schools in question. A pilot security project was introduced by my Department in the 1993-94 school year and recently extended further to the 1994-95 school year, in an attempt to combat an exceptionally high level of vandalism of certain schools in the east Finglas area.

The question of introducing similar projects in other areas must await the outcome of an evaluation of the east Finglas project on its completion at the end of the current school year. The schools to which the Deputy refers are included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and as such have been allocated additional teaching posts and supplementary capitation funding at a rate of £17 per pupil. The schools are also included in the home-school-community liaison scheme and share the services of a co-ordinator attached to the scheme.

The Deputy will be aware that I initiated the early start pre-school programme in eight locations in 1994. The areas in question were selected because of their high levels of disadvantage. I intend to extend the pre-school programme in the current year through the development of a further 25 pre-schools and the needs of the schools mentioned by the Deputy will be fully considered in the context of this development.