Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - School Staffing.

Mr. D. Moynihan

In 2001, the Department of Education and Science introduced a new disadvantaged programme known as Giving Children an Even Break. Two primary schools in Macroom participated in this programme – St. Colman's boys' national school and St. Joseph's primary school. They completed a survey and based on the data they supplied to the Educational Research Centre, they were selected for inclusion in the programme. In addition to getting additional funding, St. Colman's school was allocated an extra teacher and St. Joseph's was allocated three extra teachers.

However, in 2002, each school was notified that they had misinterpreted one of the questions – question No. 29 – and, therefore, the response to it was incorrect. The school principals had answered the question to the best of their ability and had based their answer on how they perceived the question should be answered. The Educational Research Centre re-examined the data supplied in the survey forms submitted in 2000 and recalculated the revised points total. The new total was lower than that on which the level of funding and staffing was based and, on that basis, the Department notified the schools in question that the posts allocated under the programme would be suppressed at the end of the 2002-03 school year. The teachers have been placed on the teachers' panel.

I am asking the Minister if he will reconsider the decision to withdraw the teachers from these schools until the end of the term of the programme, given that the schools were originally allocated the teachers based on the results of the survey. Macroom is in a very disadvantaged position at present as a result of the closure of the General Semiconductors Ireland plant in the town in August 2001, which resulted in the loss of about 700 or 800 jobs in the surrounding area. The reviewed figures in the appeal sent to the Department by the two schools confirm this.

Mr. Cullen

I intend to respond to Deputy Moynihan's comments on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who is otherwise engaged tonight.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to outline to the House the position regarding the two schools mentioned by the Deputy, particularly their participation in the Department of Education and Science's new disadvantage programme, Giving Children an Even Break. The Deputy may be aware that the programme was launched in 2001 to tackle educational disadvantage at primary level. Participating schools receive 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 schools invited to participate in the programme. The levels of disadvantage were established following a comprehensive survey of primary schools conducted by the Educational Research Centre in March and April 2000, at the request of the Department. Schools identified as having pupils 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. Each school was assigned a points total based on responses to questions about indicators such as unemployment, medical card possession and rented local authority housing. Any school in which there was at least one pupil who satisfied any of the criteria associated with socio-economic disadvantage was entitled to additional resources under the programme. Resources were allocated to schools on a sliding scale and schools with greater proportions of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds were allocated more resources, proportionately, than those with fewer numbers.

Urban schools identified as having the highest concentration of pupils with characteristics 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. The schools referred to by the Deputy were selected in 2001 for inclusion in this category. Both schools were also allocated additional funding based on the percentage of disadvantaged pupils enrolled, as estimated by the 2000 ERC survey.

Unfortunately, the points total for the schools to which the Deputy refers were calculated incorrectly due to the misinterpretation of a questionnaire item by the schools which led to an error in the ERC's calculation of points. The ERC has re-examined the data supplied in the survey form submitted in 2000 and calculated the correct points total in respect of both schools. 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 the correction, neither school falls into the category of schools considered for additional teaching staff under the programme.

In addition, the level of funding allocated to each school is no longer appropriate, based on the revised points awarded. The posts allocated to the schools will be suppressed at the end of the 2002-03 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 2002-03 school year has been offset against the amount overpaid for the 2000-01 and 2001-02 school years.

Having regard to the amount of funding available under this initiative and the selection criteria, it is not possible for the Department of Education and Science to accede to the appeal. The Minister for Education and Science is arranging to forward the Deputy details of the indicators of disadvantage and the associated points used to calculate the points total for urban schools in the survey of disadvantage in 2000.