Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 2

Written Answers. - Breaking the Cycle Scheme.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

16 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received the interim report on the evaluation of the Breaking the Cycle project; if so, the main conclusions drawn; if he will publish the report; when the final report is expected; if he will publish that report; the point in a child's development at which the project will have a positive impact in countering educational disadvantage; if a specific target has been set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7239/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The breaking the cycle project was introduced in selected urban and rural primary schools in September 1996. This five-year project has two dimensions, urban and rural. There are 33 schools in the urban dimension of the project and the principal feature of that dimension is the significant reduction of class size in the junior, infant to second, classes to a maximum of 15 pupils per teacher. A co-ordinator was appointed to promote the development of the project in the urban schools.

The 122 schools in the rural dimension of the project get enhanced capitation grants. Co-ordinators were appointed to local clusters of project schools to establish home-school liaison and to support pupils and teachers in the schools.

The other benefits for schools in both dimensions of the project include grants for the purchase of books and learning materials and for local support and developmental initiatives. On application for inclusion schools gave undertakings that they would participate in school planning, in in-career development and in evaluation.

Evaluation of the Breaking the Cycle project is being conducted by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra. I have not yet received the interim evaluation report. A preliminary evaluation report provided base-line data against which future evaluation data will be compared. Interim reports on both the urban and rural dimensions of Breaking the Cycle will be submitted to my Department in April. I intend to publish these interim reports shortly thereafter. I am expecting the final reports to be submitted to me in December 2001.

It is not possible at this stage to indicate the point in a child's development at which the project will have a positive impact in countering educational disadvantage and no specific target has been set.

I am finalising plans for the expenditure of £194 million over the next three years on educational disadvantage. A survey of all primary schools will take place during the current school term to assess the level of concentration in them of pupils with specific background characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage. Levels of targeted supports will be given to schools next September in accordance with their levels of need.