I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 162 together.
The Deputy may be aware that I launched the new disadvantage programme – Giving Children An Even Break – last year to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The programme will run over a three year period and will cost some €33 million. Giving Children An Even Break involves the creation of over 200 new primary teaching posts and the allocation of cash grants to 2,143 primary schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils.
Rather than the old method of designating additional schools, my Department now provides support that is commensurate with the levels of concentration in schools of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage and early school leaving. These levels of disadvantage were established as a result of a comprehensive and objective survey of all primary schools, carried out in March and April 2000 by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, on my Department's behalf.
Schools participating in Giving Children An Even Break are eligible to receive a range of additional supports, including teacher posts and financial supports, to be targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The additional supports to be provided reflect the level of concentration of pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in each school invited to participate in the programme. Schools already in receipt of additional resources under the disadvantaged areas scheme, including the school in question, will retain their entitlements under that scheme. Under the disadvantaged areas scheme, the school referred to by the Deputy is benefiting from a pupil-teacher ratio of 29:1 in all classes and has the services of a home-school-community liaison co-ordinator. The school also qualifies for special supplementary capitation funding at the rate of €38.09 per pupil and a refund of the television licence fee. The school referred to by the Deputy is included in the urban dimension of Giving Children An Even Break.