Vol. 487 No. 3
294 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will indicate whether his Department has assessed the possible eligibility of St. Mary's national school, Windsor Avenue, Dublin 3 for disadvantaged area status; the closeness of this school to the threshold for eligibility under different criteria; and whether the school can be considered for enhancement of any of the education support programmes. [3816/98]
The school in question was one of 54 schools included in the disadvantaged areas scheme for funding purposes when the scheme was last expanded in 1994. As an alternative to a further widening of the scheme, and following in-depth studies of educational disadvantage conducted by the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre, a new pilot project, the Breaking the Cycle project, was launched in May 1996.
I am currently reviewing my Department's overall response to the problem of educational disadvantage. My objective is to ensure that all available resources are properly targeted so that children who are educationally disadvantaged receive the support necessary to enable them to maximise their potential in the education system.
In the event of additional resources being targeted on pupils in disadvantaged areas, schools will be selected for support on the basis of criteria which will have regard to each school's prevailing needs at the time of selection. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school to which he refers will be considered in this context.
