Vol. 487 No. 3
305 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools involved in the Breaking the Cycle scheme; the number of children involved in the scheme; the amount of financial resources that are devoted to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3902/98]
A total of 33 primary schools, involving 7,110 pupils, are included in the urban element of the Breaking the Cycle scheme. This element of the scheme applied to schools in the urban areas of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. A total of 123 primary schools, involving 6,814 pupils, are included in the small-rural element of the scheme. This element applied to schools nationwide with fewer than five teachers.
Expenditure in excess of £700,000 was committed to this scheme in 1997. This is additional to the salary costs of the 121 teacher posts deployed as part of the scheme. The scheme is currently being evaluated by the Education Research Centre.
