Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

499 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress with his plans to tackle the effects of socio-economic disadvantage in primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23702/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I have set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority issue. In the current school year there are 211 second level schools designated as disadvantaged. These schools are allocated additional teaching resources and are invited to participate in the home-school-community liaison scheme. These schools also receive additional per capita grants.

The Deputy will be aware that in January, 2001, I launched a major new programme to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The programme will run over a three year period and will cost some £26 million. It involves the creation of over 200 new primary teaching posts and the allocation of cash grants to primary schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils. A key condition of participation is that the additional resources must be used for the provision of holistic supports for pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.

The schools being targeted were identified through a comprehensive survey of all primary schools carried out in March and April of 2000 by the Educational Research Centre on my Department's behalf. All primary schools were invited to participate and over 75% of primary schools responded with completed survey questionnaires. 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 programme has separate urban and rural dimensions. In the urban dimension, 205 schools are being supported to implement a PTR of 20:1 in the Junior classes, up to and including second class, and 29:1 in senior classes over the period of the programme. Schools in areas with populations less than 1,500 people were categorised as rural. A total of 319 rural schools have been selected for inclusion in 73 clusters. Each cluster will be allocated the services of a teacher-coordinator. In addition, all of the approximately 2,300 participating primary schools under the programme will receive additional funding to be used in the provision of a range of in school and out of school supports for the pupils concerned over the three-year period.

To assist schools in making the best use of the extra resources now being provided, an enhanced support structure is being put in place to help teachers in putting the scheme into practice. The support structure will provide training in the understanding of educational disadvantage and the delivery of targeted supports. The Deputy may already be aware of other programmes in place to tackle educational disadvantage at primary level, such as the disadvantaged areas scheme, home-school-community liaison scheme, breaking the cycle pilot project, support teacher pilot project, early start pre-school programme, the 8-15 early school leaver initiative and the stay in school retention initiative. All of these programmes are monitored on an on-going basis to ensure they are achieving their aims.