Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Liz McManus

Question:

1137 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if the findings of the research carried out by his Department to determine the level of disadvantage in national schools will be published; if he will allocate the additional 200 posts in proportion to the extent of disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30528/00]

The Deputy is referring to the comprehensive survey of all primary schools, which was carried out by the Educational Research Centre in 2000 at the request of my Department. The purpose of the survey was to identify the level of concentration in each primary school of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage and early school leaving. Almost 75% of primary schools responded to the survey with completed survey questionnaires.

A number of accepted socio-economic variables were used to compute an index of disadvantage for each school surveyed. These variables included unemployment, medical card possession and residence in local authority housing which have been found in the past to be valid indicators of disadvantage at school level. Separate indices were used for rural and urban schools to reflect the findings of previous research that showed that educational disadvantage manifests itself differently in urban and rural locations.
Schools were ranked in order of the number of disadvantaged pupils in each school which participated in the survey. The survey provides a valuable basis for directing resources to the areas of greatest need and the findings form the basis of the new programme which I announced earlier this month to tackle educational disadvantage at primary level. The programme involves expenditure of some £26 million over a three year period, including the allocation of 204 new teacher posts and supplementary funding to primary schools with concentrations of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The additional supports must be targeted at the disadvantaged pupils in each school. The programme has both an urban and rural phase and the allocation of resources on a 3:1 basis between the two is consistent with the survey finding in relation to the distribution of educationally disadvantaged pupils.
All the schools identified as having enrolled pupils with characteristics of disadvantage have been invited to participate in the new programme. Almost 2,300 primary schools will receive supplementary grant aid under the new programme based on the levels of concentration of disadvantaged pupils in the schools as identified through the ERC survey. Details of the schools eligible for assistance under the programme have been published and I will arrange to have a copy forwarded to the Deputy.
Top
Share