Vol. 512 No. 3
299 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm receipt of an application from Togher national school, Dunmanway, County Cork, for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas scheme; when he will make a decision on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25883/99]
I can confirm that the school in question has applied to my Department for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas scheme.
While the current disadvantaged areas scheme provides important support to many disadvantaged pupils, it is based purely on pupil numbers and does not take account of different levels of need. In its review of educational disadvantage in Ireland, the educational research centre recommended that resources be better targeted. One of my concerns with the present support system is that it lacks the necessary flexibility to target individual pupils or small pockets of disadvantage within the school system.
My objective is to develop a more flexible response system which will continue to support schools with large concentrations of disadvantaged pupils but will also be responsive to the needs of individual or small groups of disadvantaged pupils.
I will shortly be bringing forward a range of measures to complement existing support services to combat educational disadvantage.
I assure the Deputy that the needs of the school referred to will be fully considered in this context.
