Vol. 448 No. 2
99 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Education her views on the INTO report on poverty and educational disadvantage; and if she will take into account factors such as remoteness and depopulation in deciding whether schools with declining enrolments should retain their teachers having regard to declining rural populations in certain parts of the West of Ireland. [1744/95]
I very much welcome the INTO report on Poverty and Educational Disadvantage.
I view the report as providing a valuable input into the current debate on this very important subject and I have noted the report's particular comments in relation to the problems of remoteness and depopulation in certain parts of the country.
The Deputy may be aware that I have recently commissioned the Combat Poverty Agency to conduct a detailed study into educational disadvantage, its causes and manifestations and the responses that should be put in place to address this problem.
I am bringing the INTO's report to the attention of the Combat Poverty Agency so that the views and findings expressed therein can be taken on board in the context of the study.
