Kathleen Lynch
Question:49 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has for the development of the home-school liaison programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5189/97]
Written Answers - Home-School Liaison Programme.
The White Paper on Education "Charting our Education Future" outlines the intention to continue and further develop the home school links programme in areas of disadvantage. It is my intention to honour this commitment, as resources permit.
I should also point out that under the White Paper provisions, all schools will be required to have a formal home school links policy as part of their school plan.
I recently launched an important new initiative aimed at "Breaking the Cycle" of educational disadvantage in selected urban and rural areas. This initiative seeks to discriminate positively in favour of schools in selected urban and rural areas which have high concentrations of children who are at risk of not reaching their potential in the education system because of their socio-econnomic backgrounds. Under the initiative, a targeted programme of supports is being made available to 33 selected urban schools and 123 selected rural schools.
I believe that this new initiative will help to further promote home school links in the areas in question and will complement the very positive impact already being achieved under the home school links programme.