Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 1

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Pat Carey

Question:

331 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will clarify the application for disadvantaged status by Mary Queen of Ireland national school, Toberburr, St. Margaret's, County Dublin; if he will consider its inclusion in the psychological service provision for the Finglas area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19477/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The last general expansion of the disadvantaged areas scheme at primary level took place in 1994. The school referred to by the Deputy did not apply for inclusion on that occasion.

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 schoolgoing population. This 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 should be targeted at schools with the greatest concentration of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In keeping with the study's recommendations, resources which. subsequently became available were targeted on schools selected to participate in the breaking the cycle of disadvantage scheme which was introduced to deliver the sort of targeted support recommended in the study.

I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school to which he refers will be fully considered in the event of anv additional initiatives being taken to address educational disadvantage.

I formally established a National Educational Psychological Service Agency on 1 September last with the objective of providing a new psychological service to all schools over a period of five years. Additional psychologists are being recruited for this service at present. The needs of schools in all areas. including the Finglas area, will be addressed as part of this development.