Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 1

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status Schools.

Ivor Callely

Question:

29 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the evaluation process for a school to avail of disadvantaged status; the number of schools in the areas of Dublin 1, 3, 5 and 9 that have applied for disadvantaged status over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12658/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

In the past schools were selected for disadvantaged status on the basis of priority of need as reflected by a range of socio-economic indicators, agreed between my Department, managerial authorities and the Irish National Teachers Organisation. Account was also taken of the views of my Deparment's inspectorate on the relative levels of need among applicants.

In response to a report which I commissioned from the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre, I recently launched an important new initiative which seeks to break the cycle of educational disadvantage in selected urban and rural areas. In line with the recommendations in the report, a targeted programme of supports is being made available to 25 schools which will be selected in designated areas of disadvantage in the Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford urban areas. In addition, 25 clusters of small schools with fewer than five teachers and particularly those in rural areas with high levels of disadvantage, will receive a targeted programme of supports. Schools from all parts of the country with fewer than five teachers are eligible to apply for inclusion in this scheme.

Eligible schools have been identified on the basis of revised criteria for the identification of disadvantage as recommended in the Combat Poverty Agency/Education Research Centre report. The Education Research Centre has recently been in touch with the schools in question inviting their applications. The centre will prioritise all applicants in terms of level of need as represented by the data submitted by the schools and will advise my Department of the outcome. Schools selected as a result of this process will be invited to submit five-year development plans. Each such plan will be required to identify current difficulties and put forward specific proposals and targets for addressing the problems of educational disadvantage. Qualification for support will depend on the submission of suitable development plans.

Of the 74 primary schools in the areas mentioned, 33 already have disadvantaged status. Applications for disadvantaged status are currently on hands from a further nine schools in these areas.