Enda Kenny
Question:90 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the current position in relation to his commitment to the presentation of a five year plan to tackle educational disadvantages. [3620/99]
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
I would like to assure the House of this Government's ongoing commitment to tackling educational disadvantage during its term of office. In this context, I would refer the Deputy to my statement of 3 December detailing a two-year £57 million plan for a wide range of initiatives at all levels of education to tackle educational disadvantage. It is a comprehensive package, which represents the largest ever programme of its type in this country. I stress that this package builds on existing provision incorporating a range of programmes and initiatives specifically targeting disadvantaged schools and communities.
The package covers key areas such as early education, remedial services, home-school-community liaison, traveller education, children with disabilities, the establishment of the national psychological service, school planning, substance misuse prevention, early school leaving, adult literacy and third level access and retention. Our most important goal is to broaden and deepen participation at all levels of education as I am very conscious of the vital role that education can play in ensuring that every individual maximises his or her potential and helps to break the cycle of inter-generational disadvantage so evident in some of our communities.
As I stated in December it is my intention to build further on the initiatives launched and to continue to address educational disadvantage as part of a broader social inclusion programme during my term of office. I might add that in order to give a central co-ordinated focus to this work I have recently established a social inclusion unit in my Department the role of which is to co-ordinate policy and initiatives aimed at combating social exclusion and disadvantage. In only a brief period in office this Government has already demonstrated an unmatched commitment to giving real priority and substantial resources to this important area.