Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 1

Written Answers - Educational Disadvantage.

Donal Moynihan

Question:

356 Mr. D. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the process of appeal in regard to the applications made by two schools (details supplied) under the Giving Children an Even Break disadvantaged programme; if the up-to-date information supplied by these two schools was reviewed by the ERC; and the method of calculation of the points system used for inclusion in the scheme and the cut off points for inclusion. [7356/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The Deputy may be aware that Giving Children an Even Break was launched in 2001 to tackle educational disadvantage at primary level. Schools participating in Giving Children an Even Break are in receipt of a range of additional supports, including teacher posts and other non-teaching 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.

These levels of disadvantage were established as a result of a comprehensive survey of primary schools carried out by the Educational Research Centre, ERC, in March-April 2000 at the request of my Department. All the schools identified as having pupils enrolled with characteristics of disadvantage have been invited to participate in Giving Children an Even Break. The aim of the survey was to gain an indication of the level of disadvantage in each school using principals' responses to a questionnaire comprised of items relating to disadvantage. Any school in which there was at least one pupil which satisfied any of the criteria associated with socio-economic disadvantage was entitled to additional resources under Giving Children an Even Break. Resources were allocated to schools on a sliding scale and schools with greater proportions of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds were allocated proportionately more resources than those with fewer numbers of such pupils.

In the urban dimension, schools identified as having the highest concentration of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage, have been considered for additional staffing to implement a maximum class size of 20:1 in junior classes, infants through second class, and 27:1 in senior classes, third through sixth class. Based on data supplied by the schools to the ERC, the two schools to which the Deputy refers were selected in 2001 for inclusion in this category. In addition, both schools were allocated additional funding based on the percentage of disadvantage pupils enrolled as estimated by the Educational Research Centre survey carried out in 2000.

Unfortunately, the schools referred to by the Deputy misinterpreted a question on the survey form which resulted in miscalculation of points by the ERC. In consequence, the ERC has now re-examined the data supplied in the survey forms submitted in 2000 and calculated the correct points total in respect of both schools. In each case, the total is lower than that on which the original level of staffing and funding allocation granted to the schools in question under Giving Children an Even Break was based. Following this correction, both of the schools in question do not fall into the category of schools considered for additional teaching staff under Giving Children An Even Break. In addition, the level of funding allocated to the schools is no longer appropriate based on the revised points awarded. The posts allocated to the schools in question will be suppressed at the end of the 2002-2003 school year and the teachers in question will be placed on the diocesan teaching panel. In addition, the amended funding entitlement under Giving Children an Even Break in respect of the 2002-2003 school year has been offset against the amount overpaid for the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 school years. Having regard for the amount of funding available under this initiative and the selection criteria, I regret that it is not possible to accede to their appeal.