Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

476 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the reason a distinction is drawn between two primary schools in a particular town, one for boys and one for girls, in that one is given disadvantaged status while the other is not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15383/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I am aware that the boys' school referred to by the Deputy has disadvantaged status since 1993. An application for disadvantaged status from the adjacent girls' school was considered in my Department in 1994 in the context of an expansion of the disadvantage areas scheme being undertaken at that time. Schools were selected for inclusion in the scheme at that time on the basis of priority of need as reflected by a range of socio-economic indicators. Account was also taken of the views of my Department's Inspectorate on the relative levels of need between schools and the prevailing pupil teacher ratios. The case put forward by the school in question was considered at that time. Unfortunately, when taking these factors into account, the needs of the school was not considered to be of such priority as to warrant its inclusion on that occasion. I have no plans at present to extend disadvantaged areas status to this school.

In response to the report 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 of the report, a targeted programme of supports is being made available to 25 selected schools in designated areas of disadvantage in the Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway 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 target schools and invited applications for consideration for support under the new initiative. The centre is currently prioritising all applicants in terms of level of need as represented by the data submitted by the school 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 problem of educational disadvantage. Qualification for support will depend on the submission of suitable development plans.