Vol. 522 No. 4
294 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in his new plan to provide additional supports in disadvantaged national schools in September 2000, he will make specific provision for schools in drugs task force areas. [19055/00]
As the Deputy may be aware, 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 those schools in the drugs task force areas. 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 primary schools where there are young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Differing levels of interventions will include extra teacher support and/or extra funding which reflect the levels of need identified.
I expect to make a further announcement in relation to this matter in the near future.
