Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Seán Crowe

Question:

204 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the exact official definition used by his Department of the terms disadvantage, disadvantaged area and disadvantaged community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/03]

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

Section 32 (9) of the Education Act 1998 defines educational disadvantage as "the impediments to education arising from social or economic disadvantage which prevent students from deriving appropriate benefit from education in schools".

Dealing with educational disadvantage remains a key priority of this Government and my Department has introduced a range of key interventions and programmes aimed directly at tackling the problems of educational disadvantage. The educational disadvantage committee has recently completed a report on identifying disad vantage for the purpose of targeting resources and other supports, which I am currently considering.