All the schools referred to by the Deputy are included in the disadvantaged areas scheme, DAS, and the Giving Children an Even Break, GCEB, programme. Under the disadvantaged areas scheme all the schools benefit from additional capitation grants of €38.09per capita, a refund of the television licence fee and eligibility for 95% building grants for building projects. Designated disadvantaged schools are included in the home school community liaison scheme and each school has access to the services of a home school community liaison co-ordinator.
The Giving Children an Even Break programme subsumes the previous process of designation of schools that serve areas of educational disadvantage and my Department's approach is now refined to ensure that individual "at risk" pupils are targeted. Instead of the old method of designating additional schools, under this scheme my Department provides support that is commensurate with the levels of concentration in schools of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage and early school leaving.
All of the schools referred to by the Deputy are included in the urban dimension of Giving Children an Even Break. The schools are benefiting from supplementary funding to provide additional educational supports for the children concerned. Four of the seven schools are considered eligible for additional teaching staff, based on the level of concentration of "at risk" pupils within the schools. All schools retained their entitlements under the disadvantaged areas scheme in addition to resources allocated under Giving Children an Even Break
