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Educational Disadvantage.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004

Tuesday, 18 May 2004

Questions (85)

Martin Ferris

Question:

97 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress he has made on his recent commitment to address the needs of educational disadvantage schemes; and the way in which the €1,119,897 allocated to providing special needs staff in schools has been spent. [14248/04]

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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, NAPSincl, and the latest partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, which contains a special initiative focused on literacy, numeracy and early school leavers.

Some €540 million is being provided by my Department in 2004 for programmes specifically designed to tackle educational disadvantage in accordance with the strategies outlined in the NAPSincl and Sustaining Progress. This includes provision in the following areas: €8 million for pre-school programmes such as the early start pilot project which caters for pupils aged three to four years who are most at risk in areas of social disadvantage; €73 million for disadvantaged programmes at primary level such as the disadvantaged areas scheme, the home school community liaison scheme, and the giving children an even break programme; €35 million for post–primary level disadvantaged schemes such as the disadvantaged areas scheme, and the home school community liaison scheme; €30 million for programmes which operate at both primary and post primary levels, including the school completion programme which is a key component of my Department's strategy to discriminate positively in favour of children and young people who are at risk of early school leaving; €20 million for disadvantaged youth schemes; €175 million for further education measures such as the back to education initiative, the youthreach programme, and the adult literacy programme; €197 million for measures specifically designed to broaden access to third level education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This direct expenditure on educational disadvantage represents some 8.3% of total projected expenditure by my Department in 2004.

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.

Any application for special educational needs, SEN, supports received in my Department will be considered in the context of the criteria outlined in the relevant Department circulars and the existing level of special educational needs, SEN, resources already available in the school.

My Department's commitment to supporting children with special educational needs within the primary school system is reflected in the very significant growth in investment in special needs provision in recent years. This is illustrated by the following details.The number of learning support teachers in the primary school system has increased from 1,302 in 1998 to 1,531 at present. The annual salary cost of these teachers is approximately €54 million.

The number of resource teachers has increased from 104 in 1998 to more than 2,500 currently. The annual salary cost of these teachers is estimated at more than €75 million.

The number of special needs assistants within the primary system has grown from 300 in 1998 to 4,319 full-time and a further 1,353 part-time posts. The salary cost of this service in 2003 was €103.56 million and is estimated at €120 million for 2004.

The allocation for part-time tuition services for children with special educational needs has been increased from €24.27 million in 2003 to €31.7 million in 2004.

Funding towards special equipment within the primary school system has increased from €2.12 million in 2003 to €3 million in 2004.

The resources that have been and that continue to be allocated by my Department represent real and substantial improvements in special education services. They provide concrete evidence of the Government's commitment to build on the unprecedented development of special education services.

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