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Educational Disadvantage.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004

Tuesday, 18 May 2004

Questions (40)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

51 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to improve primary education facilities throughout the country with particular reference to areas of social and economic deprivation and with the objective of ensuring that all children leaving the primary education system are in a position to compete on an equal footing in respect of further education and employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14314/04]

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Written answers

Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Science, I have made it clear that addressing educational disadvantage is my top priority. By ensuring that available educational resources are targeted at the most disadvantaged people in the education system at all levels, my objective is to ensure that all young people leave the education system with a high quality education and related qualifications to support their full participation in society and in the economy.

My Department's approach to tackling educational disadvantage is set in the context of the Government's national action plan against poverty and social exclusion, 2003-2005, NAPS/incl. and the latest partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, which contains a special initiative focused on literacy, numeracy and early school leavers. At primary school level, my Department has provided €73 million in 2004 for programmes specifically designed to tackle educational disadvantage in accordance with the strategies outlined in the NAPS/incl. and Sustaining Progress. These programmes include the disadvantaged area scheme, the home school community liaison scheme and the giving children an even break, GCEB, programme.

The home school community liaison, HSCL, scheme is concerned with establishing partnership and collaboration between parents and teachers in the interests of the child's learning. All 314 primary schools with designated disadvantaged status were invited to join this scheme in 1999.

Under the giving children an even break programme, 2,350 participating schools are benefiting from a range of additional supports including teacher posts and financial supports to be targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The additional supports provided reflect the level of concentration of pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in each school.

Other measures directed towards the support of primary school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds include the reading recovery programme and the book grant scheme. The school completion programme and the National Educational Welfare Board, both of which operate at primary and post-primary levels, also play a crucial role in this regard.

In addition, there are a number of schemes provided by other Departments that support primary pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds such as the school meals scheme and the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme. My Department is currently finalising a review of educational disadvantage schemes and I will make an announcement in this regard once the review has been completed.

The school building programme for 2004 is further testimony to this Government's ongoing commitment to addressing the historical educational infrastructural deficit. The programme provides for an unprecedented level of investment of some €387 million in providing new and upgraded schools around the country. By the end of this year, in excess of €2 billion will have been expended in modernising schools since 1997.

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