The breaking the cycle pilot project was launched in response to detailed studies of educational disadvantage conducted by the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre.
Among the key issues raised by the studies was a concern that under the previous selection criteria, the disadvantaged areas scheme did not have due regard to rural and dispersed disadvantage. It was recommended that the criteria used in selecting schools for support be amended to better reflect educational disadvantage as manifested in rural as well as urban settings. It was also recommended that a more targeted approach be adopted with resources being directed towards the most disadvantaged urban and rural areas.
The Education Research Centre, which was charged with devising the selection criteria and selecting schools for inclusion in the project, concluded that the project should have an urban and a rural focus.
It recommended that the urban element of the scheme should focus on schools in the urban areas of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. In the case of the rural schools, it recommended that the focus should be on all schools with fewer than five teachers.
A total of 33 urban schools and 123 rural schools have been selected to participate in the breaking the cycle pilot project.
The ERC has been commissioned to evaluate the effectiveness of both dimensions of the pilot project. One of the key issues to be covered in the review will be the question of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the two distinct approaches, urban and rural, which are being tested under the pilot project.
I am also currently considering a range of options for future provision to combat educational disadvantage. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of schools in all areas will be considered in the context of this review.
