asked the Minister for Education if she will give precise details of the additional measures proposed for positive discrimination in favour of disadvantaged children in primary schools; and if she will distinguish between what has been obtained heretofore and the new measures proposed.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Disadvantaged Primary Schoolchildren.
4.
The additional measures of positive discrimination proposed in favour of educationally disadvantaged children in primary schools include:
Increased capitation grant in respect of pupils in special classes;
Pilot projects aimed at securing improved participation in education by the children of travellers;
Interventions in certain schools in certain urban areas involving provision of books and materials, provision for school/home liaison, special inservice training for teachers and extra grants towards meeting the operational costs of schools.
The measures are in addition to those indicated in my reply to question No. 116 of 14 December 1983.
Is it in order for me to say that the atmosphere in the House — I do not mean the political atmosphere — has been very warm this week? Everybody has been feeling stifled, both here and in the corridors. It has been put to me that it is not very helpful to general debate. The temperature is too high.
That has been noted and it will be looked into.
Where will the pilot projects be gone ahead with and where are the special areas of intervention?
Yesterday I answered a question in regard to the criteria. I repeat that we are concentrating available resources in areas where boards of management find it most difficult to raise the appropriate local contributions, where unemployment is high and where, generally speaking, the links between schools and the community are weakest.
That is admirable and we agree with it. I am not wandering from the question, because I asked if the Minister would give precise information. I want to know where are the pilot projects, where are they located and what is the location of the new areas in which additional funding will be put?
I would be very happy to help the Deputy, but that is not the question and I do not have the information.
Would the Minister supply me with particulars of the precise locations? If the Minister is so well acquainted with the disadvantaged I would expect to get the information as quickly as possible.
Would the Deputy contact my office?
Does the Minister accept that the disadvantaged areas of which she has spoken obtain as widely in rural as in urban areas?
I am well aware of the rural disadvantaged areas. The initial scheme we are introducing will apply to urban areas.
Why is it intended that the scheme should be begun in urban areas if the Minister has accepted that the level of need is just as high in rural areas?
I did not say the need is just as high. I consider that the priority has to be certain urban areas where I consider the need to be greater.
Does the Minister accept that disadvantage can take many forms and that it does not always have to be urban based.
Absolutely.
Would the Minister tell us why she has initiated the programme in urban areas? I contend that the levels of need, though great in Dublin, are equally great in certain rural areas.
It is generally considered that the level of hardship caused by high urban unemployment is such that children in those areas are very disadvantaged compared with those in rural areas.