Question:
392 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress, if any, on the establishment of a unit to tackle disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4331/99]
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
My Department has a continuing policy of support for the disadvantaged. The two-year, £57 million plan for a wide range of initiatives specifically targeting educational disadvantage at all levels of education, which I announced on 3 December, represents the largest such programme ever in this country. It is my intention to build further on these initiatives during my term of office. This package of measures – which covers key areas such as early education, remedial services, home-school-community liaison, traveller education, children with disabilities, the establishment of a national psychological service, school planning, substance misuse prevention, early school leaving, adult literacy, and third level access and retention – is a concerted effort to improve access, broadening the supports for retention in the system of our most vunerable groupings and expanding the range of opportunities available within the system in particular adult literacy.
I have recently established a social inclusion unit in my Department the primary role of which is to co-ordinate policy and initiatives aimed at combating social exclusion and disadvantage in all levels of the education system. The level of staffing for this unit is currently being finalised. The unit will also maintain strong links with other agencies and Departments involved in social inclusion work such as the Department of Health and Children, The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, in particular the NAPS unit, and the Combat Poverty Agency.