Vol. 280 No. 4
asked the Minister for Education if he will adjust the pupil/teacher ratio regulations to provide for the adequate staffing of all schools in underprivileged areas in Dublin, such as Bonnybrook, where a disproportionate number of the children in the higher standards are classified as remedial due to their having obtained half-days' schooling in the opening years of their school lives due to lack of accommodation.
24.
asked the Minister for Education if he will provide adequate grants for the purchase of teaching aids and materials essential for the adequate imparting of the new curriculum in national schools in underprivileged areas; and if he is aware of the extent to which teachers have endeavoured to defray such expenses from their own pockets.
I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.
As I announced in this House some time ago, a top priority of mine is to make greater provision for disadvantaged children and to ensure that their needs are met to the best of our ability to provide resources. By disadvantaged children I mean not only children who are suffering from mental or physical handicap but, also, children who are placed at disadvantage through social and environmental circumstances. I am aware that there exist in certain school districts social and other conditions which give rise to special educational problems. An action research project has been in progress in the Rutland Street area of Dublin for the past few years with the following purposes:
(a) to investigate the factors associated with educational disadvantage and to develop appropriate procedures to counteract it;
(b) to evaluate the experience gained with a view to assisting children similarly circumstanced in other areas.
The research findings from this project will be available very shortly. I hope to use them as a basis for intervention in schools where there is a high degree of educational disadvantage.
At this point I am not in a position to state precisely what measures will be introduced in schools where priority is warranted, but I will bear the Deputy's suggestion in mind.
Has the Minister received this report as yet? It was stated that the report would be available in March.
The report is being completed but I have not yet received it.
Did the Minister receive an interim report?
No.
