Vol. 521 No. 4
270 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that a home-school-community liaison teacher is appointed to St. Fergal's senior national school, Bray, County Wicklow, in view of the great need that exists in this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17123/00]
The school to which the Deputy refers has been allocated the services of a home-school-community liaison co-ordinator on a shared basis with the junior school. All available posts were utilised in the current school year to extend the home-school-community liaison scheme to all first and second level schools which have disadvantaged area status.
I am aware of and have noted the situation referred to and wish to assure the Deputy that the school will be fully considered in the event of any further expansion of the home-school-community liaison scheme.
I have set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority and will be bringing forward proposals for a major initiative to address the needs of pupils who are encountering educational disadvantage in the primary system. As a first step in this process, the Educational Research Centre recently issued a comprehensive questionnaire to all primary schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy. Work on analysis of the responses from schools is nearing completion and the results will allow for the identification of levels of disadvantage in every responding school.
I intend allocating additional resources next September to selected primary schools that have the highest concentrations of young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Differing levels of interventions will include extra teacher support and-or extra funding which will be allocated to selected schools and will reflect the levels of need identified.
I expect to make a further announcement in relation to this matter in the near future.
271 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give positive consideration to an application by a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath for a resource teacher for a person (details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17126/00]
An application for resource teaching support for the child referred to by the Deputy will be investigated by my Department's inspec torate. As soon as the inspector's report is received and considered, my Department will be in touch with the school authorities.
