Vol. 495 No. 4
415 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, while the convent primary school, Birr, County Offaly, has been designated as disadvantaged and receives extra funding, it does not have a concessionary teacher under the disadvantaged school scheme; and if he will sanction this appointment to the school. [20323/98]
I am aware of the situation to which the Deputy refers. The school in question is one of a number of national schools which has been designated as disadvantaged for funding purposes only. My capacity to allocate additional concessionary teacher posts in any given year is dependent on resource availability and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas. I have to determine priorities and allocate available resources to best effect.
I am reviewing my Department's overall response to the problems 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.
The needs of the school to which the Deputy refers will be fully considered in the context of any additional resource allocations which may be undertaken to address educational disadvantage.
