Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:290 Mr. Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will include Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Athy, in the Giving Children an Even Break pilot project. [3600/03]
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.
The Giving Children an Even Break programme was launched in 2001 to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The schools targeted under the programme were identified through a comprehensive and objective survey of all primary schools carried out in March and April 2000 by the Educational Research Centre in Drumcondra on my Department's behalf. Giving Children an Even Break subsumes the previous process of designation of schools that serve areas of educational disadvantage. My Department's approach is now refined to ensure that the individual at risk pupils are targeted. Rather than the old method of designating additional schools, my Department 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.
There are separate urban and rural dimensions to the programme. Schools categorised as urban with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils are supported, where necessary, over the three year period through staff allocations to implement a pupil-teacher ratio of 20:1 in the jun ior classes, infants through second class, and a pupil-teacher ratio of 27:1 in senior classes, third through sixth classes. 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.
The school referred to by the Deputy is included in the urban dimension of Giving Children an Even Break. It benefits from supplementary funding to provide additional educational supports for the children concerned. The school was not considered eligible for additional teaching staff based on the level of concentration of at risk pupils in the school, as reflected in the Educational Research Centre survey outcome. Schools that expressed concern about the outcome of the survey in respect of their school were advised to make representations to my Department outlining their circumstances. These representations, which included representations from the school referred to by the Deputy, were referred to the Educational Research Centre for consideration. My Department has received a report from the Educational Research Centre and following consideration of the representations received the school referred to by the Deputy has been informed that there will be no alteration in the existing level of support provided under Giving Children an Even Break.