Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Home-School Liaison Scheme.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

624 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a home-school liaison officer to Moyle Park College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 in view of the fact the school caters for more than 700 students, it has made application for a home-school liaison officer unsuccessfully over the past five years and is located in a disadvantaged area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7973/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 and 624 together.

I recently announced a major new funding initiative for the education sector. As a core element of this, a total of 225 new second level teachers will be appointed this year. These new teachers will enable the extension of the home/school/community liaison scheme to all second level schools currently designated as disadvantaged.

In the current school year, of the 762 schools at second level, 190 schools have been allocated disadvantaged posts and qualify for disadvantaged status on that basis.

While I have no proposals at present for designating further schools as disadvantaged, I can assure the Deputies that the position of Moyle Park College will receive full consideration in the context of any future review of the disadvantaged and home/school/community liaison schemes.

A study of educational disadvantage conducted by the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre in 1996 concluded that disadvantaged status should be confined to 16 per cent of the school-going population. The study noted that such status had already been granted to 17 per cent of pupils. As an alternative to extending the disadvantaged areas scheme to additional schools, the study recommended that available resources be targeted on the most disadvantaged schools.