Vol. 482 No. 8
280 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science whether a school (details supplied) in County Waterford requires disadvantaged status; if so, when his Department will provide that status for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19651/97]
The school in question is one of a number of schools which have applied for disadvantaged status to my Department. The disadvantaged areas scheme was last expanded in 1994 when an additional 54 schools were included for capitation purposes only. As an alternative to a further widening of the scheme, and following indepth studies of educational disadvantage conducted by the Education Research Centre and the Combat Poverty Agency, a new pilot project, breaking the cycle, was launched in May 1996.
I am currently considering the range of special support services targeted on educational disadvantage. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school in question will be considered in the context of any future developments in this area.
