Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
301 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if an application made by the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will be approved for a pilot foreign language programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20487/04]
View answerThe pilot programme for modern languages was introduced to 270 primary schools in 1998. As this was a pilot project it was not possible to accommodate all of the schools applying for inclusion. Approximately 1,300 schools applied for inclusion in the project at the outset and were considered under a number of clear criteria such as gender balance, urban-rural mix and socio-economic context. Approximately 20% of the schools selected initially were designated by my Department as disadvantaged.
The application of the school referred to for inclusion in the modern languages initiative at primary level has been approved in principle by the initiative's consultative group and the school has been placed on a waiting list for inclusion on the initiative. While it is not possible to accommodate all schools who apply for inclusion in the initiative it is proposed to carry out a review of the initiative in the near future with a view to increasing the number of participating schools to the maximum extent that budgetary considerations will permit.
