Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

554 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools currently designated as disadvantaged; the various categories of designation; the initiatives, if any, he has taken since coming into office to assist designated schools; whether administrative principals may be appointed at a lower figure in designated schools; the number of schools in urban and rural areas which have applied for the breaking the cycle and early start schemes but which have not been approved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21139/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

A total of 316 primary schools currently have disadvantaged area status. All schools which have been designated disadvantaged are entitled to a staffing allocation which enables them to operate at a maximum class size of 29:1. They also qualify for supplementary capitation funding at a rate of £30 per pupil. These schools are also eligible to benefit from a television licence refund; preferential funding rates under the school books rental scheme; and a 95 per cent grant towards building costs. Prior to 1994, schools which secured disadvantaged status also received a concessionary teacher post as part of their support package. However, in more recent years, available teacher posts have been deployed to support the Breaking the Cycle of disadvantage initiative which is focused on schools with particularly serious levels of disadvantage.

In December, 1998 I announced a major £57 million package of measures to address the issue of educational disadvantage. This included the extension of the home-school-community liaison service to all schools with disadvantaged status with effect from the commencement of the current school year.

In 1998 also I introduced the eight to 15 year old early school leavers programme. This programme, which is currently operating in 14 disadvantaged areas, is testing models of response to the problem of early school leaving. The objective is to integrate successful models into mainstream policy and practice. A total of £3.68 million is being expended on this programme over the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 school years.

I should also point out that the Education Act makes specific provision for the establishment of a committee on educational disadvantage. The groundwork for the establishment of this committee is at an advanced stage in my Department. This committee will advise me on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage.

The appointment of administrative principals in all ordinary national schools takes place on the appointment of the eighth mainstream class teacher. Schools with disadvantaged status have the benefit of reaching this level of staffing at an earlier stage by virtue of being staffed to operate at a maximum class size of 29:1.

A total of 221 schools were eligible to apply for inclusion in the urban element of the Breaking the Cycle pilot initiative. Applications were received from 190 of these schools and 33 schools were selected for inclusion in the scheme. A total of 1,915 schools were eligible to apply for inclusion in the rural element of the Breaking the Cycle pilot initiative. Applications were received from 691 schools and 123 schools were selected for inclusion in the scheme. Information on the number of schools which have sought inclusion in the early start pre-school pilot programme since its introduction in 1994 is not readily available in my Department.