Michael Ring
Question:1197 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Mayo has been included in the disadvantaged schools scheme for 2001. [1731/01]
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.
Liam Aylward
Question:1212 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a national school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has not been included in the recently announced Breaking the Cycle programme; and if he will arrange to have this particular school afforded the resources of this programme. [1855/01]
Liam Aylward
Question:1217 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a junior school (details supplied) in County Carlow was not included in the recently announced Breaking the Cycle programme; and if he will now arrange to have their situation fully investigated with a view to having them included in this programme. [1890/01]
Brian O'Shea
Question:1221 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the assistance he can give to a primary school (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1918/01]
Brian O'Shea
Question:1222 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Waterford was excluded from the recent announcement of schools to benefit from the scheme of integrated support for pupils in primary schools from disadvantaged backgrounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1919/01]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:1224 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria under which a school (details supplied) in County Donegal failed to get disadvantaged status. [1921/01]
Liam Aylward
Question:1242 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a national school (details supplied) in County Waterford was excluded in his recently announced Breaking the Cycle programme; if he will arrange to have their particular situation investigated with a view to having them included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2029/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1197, 1212, 1217, 1221, 1222, 1224 and 1242 together.
When I became Minister for Education and Science, I set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority. The Deputies will be aware that earlier this month I launched a major new programme to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The new programme will be run over a three year period and will cost some £26 million. The programme involves the creation of 204 new primary teaching posts and the allocation of cash grants to primary schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils.
The schools targeted under the programme were identified through a comprehensive and objective survey of all primary schools carried out in March/April 2000 by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, on my Department's behalf. All primary schools were invited to complete the survey questionnaire and over 75% of primary schools participated and returned completed survey forms to the ERC. The survey provides a valuable basis for directing resources to the areas of greatest need and all schools identified as having enrolled pupils with characteristics of disadvantage have been invited to participate in the programme.
The Educational Research Centre's records indicate that a questionnaire to apply for inclusion in the new programme was not received from the individual schools referred to by the Deputies. Naturally, in the absence of a completed survey form relating to any of the schools in question, the ERC was unable to assess the level of concentration of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage in relation to these schools. Where individual schools did not participate in the survey, they may make a submission to my Department outlining their circumstances in relation to educational disadvantage. These submissions will be referred to the ERC for consideration. The situation of these schools will then be further considered.