Vol. 459 No. 7
100 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the criteria applying for a school to be granted disadvantaged status; the other considerations, if any, that are taken into account; the alterations, if any, she is considering introducing in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18681/95]
Schools are currently selected for disadvantaged status on the basis of a range of criteria agreed between my Department, schools' management and the teacher unions. Factors taken into account include the incidence of unemployment, local authority housing occupancy and medical card holding among the parents of the children concerned. Account is also taken of the views of my Department's inspectorate and the prevailing pupil teacher ratios among applicant schools.
Earlier this year I commissioned the Combat Poverty Agency to review the adequacy of current approaches to the selection and support of schools in disadvantaged areas. This report has now been received in my Department and provides a very valuable basis for considering our future approach to the identification and support of educational disadvantage. My Department is currently finalising its consideration of the report and I hope to be in a position to make a further and more detailed announcement on this matter in the near future.
