Brian Cowen
Question:469 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Education the schools in County Offaly being accorded disadvantaged status as a result of recent applications by various schools (details supplied) in County Offaly. [15371/96]
Written Answers. - County Offaly Disadvantaged Schools.
As the Deputy is aware, I recently launched an important new initiative which seeks to break the cycle of educational disadvantage in selected urban and rural areas. The initiative is in response to reports which I commissioned from the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre. In line with the recommendations in the reports, a targeted programme of supports is being made available to 25 selected schools 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. The Education Research Centre has recently been in touch with all the schools in question, inviting their application. The Education Research Centre is currently prioritising 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 shortly. 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.