Vol. 489 No. 6
729 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will run pilot projects in the academic year 1998-99; the number of these pilot projects he envisages; if he will give a commitment that the Waterford constituency will get its fair share of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8998/98]
I envisage that a total of eight pilot projects will be conducted under the aegis of my Department in the 1998-99 school year. In selecting schools for participation in these projects, my Department adopts clear criteria, and all applications are fully examined. Every effort is made to include schools from the various categories based on factors such as school size, boys' and girls' schools, urban and rural schools, etc. Geographic and socio-economic factors would also be a consideration.
At present I am not in a position to state what schools will be involved in the various projects, but I can assure the Deputy that schools in the Waterford constituency will receive the same consideration as schools in other parts of the country.
