The submission to which the Deputy refers related to the school's request for inclusion in the rural phase of my recent initiative aimed at breaking the cycle of disadvantage in selected urban and rural areas.
The criteria under which schools were selected for inclusion in this initiative and the selection process it self, were devised and carried out by the educational research centre following detailed consideration of a range of possible indicators.
I understand that the educational research centre wrote to all unsuccessful applicants, including the school mentioned by the Deputy, on 3 October 1996 informing them of their failure to qualify under the selection process. However, due to the administrative error, a response to a subsequent representation on behalf of the school indicated that the school had not applied for inclusion in the scheme.
As soon as this error came to light, the author of the earlier representation was advised of the correct position. I understand that the education research centre also wrote to the school on 28 November 1996 to explain the basis for its non-selection. I very much regret any inconvenience caused by the above developments.
I have no plans at present to extend disadvantaged area status to additional primary schools. However, I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school in question will be considered in the context of any further expansion of supports in this area.
